2.12 Lakh Dog Bite Cases in Jammu Kashmir In 3 Years, Srinagar Tops The Chart

by Maleeha Sofi

SRINAGAR: The Jammu and Kashmir government has informed the Legislative Assembly that a total of 2,12,968 dog-bite cases have been reported across the Union Territory between 2022 and 2025, with Srinagar district alone accounting for 36,406 cases, the highest among all districts. The figures were presented by the Housing and Urban Development Department during the Question Hour in response to a question raised by MLA Mubarak Gul on the rising menace of stray dogs and measures being taken to control the population and prevent rabies.

According to district-wise data placed on record, Kashmir Division accounted for a total of 1,14,498 cases, while Jammu Division reported 98,470 cases during the same period. After Srinagar, Baramulla recorded the second-highest number of cases at 18,563, followed by Budgam (9,382), Kulgam (6,612), Bandipora (5,367), Pulwama (3,426), Kupwara (3,594), Ganderbal (3,338), Anantnag (2,359), and Shopian (1,357).

In the Jammu Division, Jammu district reported the maximum number of cases — 54,889, followed by Kathua (8,913), Udhampur (8,549), Doda (4,390), Reasi (4,210), Rajouri (6,242), Poonch (2,923), Ramban (2,257), Kishtwar (3,662), and Samba (3,335).

The Minister in charge said the figures underline a serious public health and civic challenge, particularly in Srinagar, which continues to report the highest frequency of dog bites despite ongoing sterilisation and vaccination drives.

The government informed the Assembly that the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) has sterilised and vaccinated 48,738 stray dogs between June 2023 and September 2025 as part of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ARV) programme. Of these, 13,730 dogs were sterilised at the Tengpora centre, 27,237 through field and partnered operations under the SMC’s ABC calendar, 7,810 at the Shuhama facility of SKUAST-K, and 161 under other local initiatives.

The Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies programme in Srinagar, officials said, is being carried out in accordance with the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, framed by the Animal Welfare Board of India. The sterilisation and vaccination operations are conducted at three designated centres — Tengpora, SKUAST-K Shuhama, and the upcoming Ahal Chitterhama Centre, which is 90 per cent complete and will soon become operational with the capacity to sterilise or immunise 1,800 dogs per month.

The Tengpora facility, currently the main operational hub, has a capacity to conduct 45 to 50 dog surgeries a day, supported by 52 post-operative kennels and 7 quarantine kennels. The Shuhama centre, operated jointly by SMC and SKUAST-K, carries out 15 to 20 surgeries daily with 30 post-operative kennels and 20 community kennels.

The government said that the Directorate of Urban Local Bodies, Kashmir, is in the process of setting up Animal Birth Control (ABC) centres in all nine districts of Kashmir Division, and land has already been identified for three clusters in the first phase. Deputy Commissioners have been directed to earmark suitable patches of land for the establishment of sterilisation and vaccination units in their respective districts.

A similar initiative is underway in Jammu Division, where Urban Local Bodies are working in coordination with the Animal Welfare Board of India to expand the ABC-ARV network to all municipal areas.

The Srinagar Municipal Corporation has also been conducting citywide awareness campaigns to educate residents about safety measures to prevent dog bites and promote responsible handling of stray animals. Around 25,000 pamphlets on the ABC-ARV programme have been distributed in different wards, while awareness jingles are being played through public address systems on waste collection vehicles. Hoardings with do’s and don’ts for public safety have been installed across the city, and advisories issued in compliance with High Court directions.

The government said these measures are part of a sustained effort to ensure public safety and animal welfare under the supervision of the Animal Welfare Board of India. The Minister added that while controlling the stray dog population is a gradual process, the administration is committed to year-round sterilisation and vaccination campaigns to prevent the spread of rabies and reduce dog-bite incidents.

With the total number of dog-bite cases in Jammu and Kashmir crossing two lakh in just three years, the government said it is intensifying both infrastructural and public outreach components of its animal control programme to ensure safer urban environments and healthier coexistence between people and animals.