Panic gripped Perumbavoor town and nearby areas after a stray dog ran amok for over two hours, biting around 20 persons, including women and a child, on Friday evening.
Furious locals eventually clubbed the dog to death at Pattal, 2 km from Perumbavoor town along AM Road to Kothamangalam, around 5 p.m. Perumbavoor Municipal Chairperson Sathi Jayakrishnan said that the dog entered the municipal limits from Manjapetty from the nearby Vazhakkulam panchayat. “It then went on a biting spree, spreading panic,” she said. The first bite was reported around 2.30 p.m.
“At least 20 persons, including those waiting at bus stops, were bitten. Two sustained deep wounds. All the injured were administered first aid and tetanus injection and were subsequently referred to the Ernakulam Medical College for administration of anti rabies serum,” said Rajesh, a junior health inspector at the taluk hospital. It was not yet confirmed whether it was a rabid dog. Ms. Jayakrishnan said around 14 persons were sent to the medical college hospital on the municipality’s ambulance.
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Medical College Hospital officials said that as many as 18 persons had been admitted to the casualty wing with varying degrees of injuries.
It was not yet decided whether they have to be admitted or not, officials said.