Canines bite Class VIII pupil

PANCHKULA: Stray dogs bit a student of Class VIII, Radhika Pandav, while she was returning from friend's house on Thursday evening. A 60-year-old woman had to undergo similar ordeal when she was returning from the market a day before.
These are not solitary incidents as stray dog menace has become a major nuisance, especially during night hours, for pedestrians.It has not remained confined to rural areas, but spread to urban localities also. The worst affected are sectors 7, 8, 9, and 10.
A resident of Sector 10, Makhani Yadav, 60, says, "Matters become worse during night hours for pedestrians. The civic body should initiate some measures and implement these in a planned manner for effective results. Why should innocent children and the elderly like us become easy victims of dog bites."
Swati Bansal of Sector 9 says, "Despite the problem of stray dogs assuming alarming proportions for the past few years, the municipal corporation authorities have showed no response. This indicates that they are least bothered about our problem that we are facing daily."
Referring to sterilization programmes undertaken by the administration and other bodies, he adds, ?It is not the only practical solution as it requires a lot of time, money and implementation. They should think of an alternative.?
Medical superintendent of General Hospital in Sector 6, Dr V K Bansal, said, "The cases have increased due to a rise in the canine population in the city. Around 566 cases have been reported in past three months."
Executive officer O P Sihag remarks, "I have joined the MC recently and will look into the matter soon."