Elderly Woman Severely Injured in Khargone Stray Dog Attack
A 72-year-old retired municipal employee, Pratibha Modak, sustained serious injuries after being viciously attacked by a pack of stray dogs outside her residence on BTI Road in Khargone. The distressing incident occurred on Thursday night around 10 pm, when Modak stepped out for her evening walk.
Violent Assault Captured on CCTV
According to eyewitness accounts and CCTV footage that subsequently went viral on social media platforms, Modak was chased and attacked by multiple stray dogs. Frightened by the sudden assault, she attempted to flee but tragically fell to the ground during the chaotic encounter.
Passers-by intervened courageously, throwing stones to disperse the aggressive animals and successfully rescuing the injured woman. Modak was bleeding profusely from her wounds and was immediately transported to a private hospital for urgent medical treatment.
Municipal Response and Stray Dog Statistics
Khargone Municipality Chief Municipal Officer Kamla Kaul confirmed that a municipal team was dispatched to the location promptly after receiving notification of the attack. Kaul revealed alarming statistics about the city's stray dog population, stating that Khargone is home to approximately 12,000 stray dogs.
The municipal authorities have captured about 6,000 of these animals to date as part of their ongoing management efforts. "After capturing stray dogs, our protocol involves administering anti-rabies vaccinations and performing sterilization procedures as mandated by the Animal Birth Control program," explained CMO Kaul.
Controversial Release Policy Under Scrutiny
Municipal regulations require that after sterilization and vaccination, dogs must be released at the exact location from which they were originally captured. This policy, while intended to maintain ecological balance, has raised significant concerns among residents following this violent attack on an elderly citizen.
The incident has sparked renewed debate about public safety measures and the effectiveness of current stray animal management strategies in urban areas. Local authorities are facing increased pressure to review their protocols and implement more comprehensive solutions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
