Stray Dog Attacks Become Routine in Chennai's Tambaram Area
A recent incident in Chennai has highlighted the growing stray dog menace in the Tambaram region. On January 7, R Harish Kumar, a 36-year-old resident of Thirumagal Nagar near Chitlapakkam, was bitten on the leg by a stray dog. The attack occurred while he was returning from a grocery shop with his father.
Residents Voice Frustration Over Poor Enforcement
Local residents say such dog bite incidents have become routine across Tambaram. They point to poor enforcement of the Supreme Court's direction to remove stray dogs from sensitive and high-footfall areas. The court specifically mentioned places like hospitals, school zones, railway stations, bus stands, and metro stations.
Dr Palanivel, chief medical officer and dean of Chromepet Government Hospital, revealed alarming statistics. "In the last one month alone, more than 450 dog bite cases were treated at Chromepet GH," he stated.
Widespread Presence of Aggressive Strays
Residents estimate at least 500 aggressive stray dogs in several areas. These include East Tambaram, Selaiyur, Camp Road, Chitlapakkam, and Thiruvanchery. Dayanand Krishnan, a resident-activist, expressed serious concerns. "This poses serious risks to pedestrians, children, and motorists," he said.
A recent survey by Tambaram Corporation identified around 46,000 stray dogs across its five zones. This averages about 9,200 dogs per zone. Officials admit the actual number could be closer to 50,000. Notably, the corporation does not maintain official data on the number of aggressive dogs.
Lack of Permanent Solutions
Dayanand Krishnan criticized the corporation's response. "Every day, the number of issues caused by stray dogs keeps increasing. Corporation officials have not come up with a permanent solution," he said. He pointed out that unlike the Greater Chennai Corporation, Tambaram Corporation did not launch a full-fledged drive to capture aggressive dogs. It also failed to develop any infrastructure to house them.
Corporation's Response and Plans
Tambaram Corporation Commissioner S Balachander addressed the concerns. "The corporation is taking measures to find aggressive dogs. We are constructing two isolation centres in East and West Tambaram. As soon as construction is completed, the dogs will be isolated and treated there," he explained.
The situation remains tense for residents who face daily risks from the growing stray dog population. The promised isolation centres offer some hope, but immediate action is needed to prevent further attacks.
