Tragic Death Following Stray Dog Attack in Surat
A 35-year-old man lost his life on Thursday after a harrowing incident involving stray dogs left him severely paralyzed. Ibrahim Ansari, a resident of Bhandariwad area in Hodi-bungalow, succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment at Lokhat Hospital in Surat.
The Fateful Incident
The tragic sequence of events began on October 24, when Ansari was returning home after paying respects at his father's grave in Haripura Kabristan. As he navigated through a narrow lane near his residence, five stray dogs suddenly chased him.
In his desperate attempt to escape the pursuing animals, Ansari lost his balance and fell onto the road. During the fall, his neck struck the silencer of a parked motorcycle, causing catastrophic injuries that left him 80 percent paralyzed.
"His entire body, starting from his chest, hands, abdomen and lower part of the body, got paralyzed," revealed Aftab Ansari, Ibrahim's elder brother, who operates a printing press in Saiyedpura.
Family's Anguish and Official Response
The grieving brother expressed profound frustration with municipal authorities, stating that repeated complaints about the stray dog menace in their area had gone unaddressed. "If the SMC had impounded the stray dogs promptly, my younger brother would be alive today," Aftab Ansari lamented.
He described his brother as an unmarried man who worked alongside him in the family printing press business.
Following the incident, the Market Department of Surat Municipal Corporation took action on Friday, capturing five stray dogs from the Bhandariwad area. However, Ravi Patel, Additional Superintendent of the Market Department, revealed that examination showed the dogs had been sterilized and vaccinated.
"It is the behavior of stray dogs to bark and run after the public," Patel explained, adding that the department regularly receives complaints about stray dog nuisance and maintains active teams to address the issue across the city.
Growing Concern Over Stray Animals
This tragic incident has highlighted the ongoing challenge of stray dog management in urban Indian communities. Despite municipal efforts including sterilization and vaccination programs, encounters between residents and stray animals continue to pose significant safety risks.
The death of Ibrahim Ansari underscores the urgent need for more effective solutions to address the stray animal population while balancing animal welfare concerns with public safety.
