It took the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) a week to visit Jnanajyothinagar where Jyothi S.P. was viciously attacked by a stray dog.
Her husband, Avinash Yadav K.B., a medical representative, said she was on her way to her mother’s house a few metres away from their home when the unprovoked attack caught the 23-year-old off guard. “It was around 3.45 p.m. last Sunday. The dog first bit her hand. When she fell down, the dog bit her nose and eye as well.”
The young woman was rushed to a private hospital nearby. Mr. Yadav said he had so far spent around Rs. 50,000 on her treatment. Part of her nose has been bitten off and plastic surgery would cost anywhere between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 80,000. He mentioned there were at least 50 strays in the neighbourhood. Highlighting the menace, Mr. Yadav said the following day, a boy in the same area was bitten.
BBMP Animal Husbandry Joint Director Parviz Ahmed Piran admitted that tackling the dog menace in the city would continue to pose a challenge till the garbage crisis was resolved.
“There are several vacant sites in this area and the residents told me that garbage is being dumped there. If they don’t take care of the garbage problem, this problem will persist.”
Dr. Piran said BBMP officials had made arrangements for anti-rabies injection for Ms. Jyothi as it was not provided by the private hospital. Asked if the BBMP would provide financial assistance for her plastic surgery, he said a representation would have to be made to the civic authority. Although the dog was not yet identified, Dr. Piran suspects the dog might be rabid.
