Shimla, May 1,
A disturbing incident in Shimla’s Dhalli area has once again exposed the growing menace of stray dogs in the hill town—an issue that has long echoed in civic discussions but remains unaddressed. On Tuesday, three children were reportedly attacked by stray dogs near the Dhalli tunnel at different times of the day, leaving one child seriously injured and admitted to IGMC. The attacks sparked outrage among residents and political leaders, underscoring the gravity of a problem that has often fallen on deaf ears.
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The issue flared up during a meeting of the Shimla Municipal Corporation, where councillors from both the BJP and Congress accused the civic body of gross inaction. Despite repeated complaints, they said, no substantial measures have been taken to safeguard the public. The debate took a sharp turn when Dhalli Councillor Narinder Thakur clashed with Shimla Mayor Surinder Chauhan, leading to a heated exchange that disrupted proceedings for several hours. Councillors from both sides staged a protest in the well of the House, demanding a concrete and time-bound policy to deal with the stray dog population. Thakur reminded the House that even elected representatives had not been spared in the past. “Even councillors have been bitten, yet the administration chooses to remain indifferent,” he said, calling the situation a growing public safety emergency, particularly for women and children.
Tensions spilled outside the civic chambers as well. Social worker Karamchand Bhatia staged a dharna outside the Mayor’s office after his eight-year-old son Aditya was attacked while on his way to school. Bhatia called off the protest only after receiving an assurance from Mayor Chauhan that swift action would follow. But even such public pressure appears to be up against the limitations of the law. Civic officials point out that under prevailing animal protection regulations, municipal bodies are prohibited from capturing or eliminating stray dogs. The only sanctioned measures involve sterilization and periodic vaccination—efforts that critics argue have proven woefully inadequate.
As the number of dog bite incidents in Shimla continues to rise, residents are increasingly questioning the balance between animal rights and human safety. The incident has reignited demands for legal reform that would empower local bodies to act decisively in cases involving aggressive strays. For now, however, public appeals continue to go unanswered, and the silence of the authorities speaks louder than the protests echoing through the city’s streets.
