Jammu & Kashmir Grapples with Over 200,000 Dog Bite Incidents in Two-Year Period
In a concerning revelation, Jammu and Kashmir has reported a staggering total of 206,460 dog bite cases over the past two years. This alarming data was presented by State Health and Medical Education Minister Sakina Itoo during a session in the legislative assembly on Thursday.
Regional Breakdown of Cases Shows Jammu Division as Major Hotspot
The detailed figures provided by Minister Itoo highlight a significant disparity between the two main regions of the union territory. The Jammu division accounted for 126,844 cases, which represents a substantial majority of the total incidents. In contrast, the Kashmir valley reported 79,616 cases during the same period.
This regional breakdown underscores the varying intensity of the issue across Jammu and Kashmir, with Jammu emerging as the area most severely affected by dog bite incidents.
District-Level Data Reveals Alarming Trends in Key Urban Centers
Delving deeper into the statistics, Minister Itoo shared specific numbers for two major districts. In Jammu district alone, the situation appears to be worsening year over year. The district recorded 33,065 dog bite cases in 2024, which then surged to 43,759 cases in 2025. This brings the two-year total for Jammu district to a concerning 76,824 cases.
Meanwhile, in Srinagar, the figures remained relatively stable but persistently high. The capital city of Kashmir reported 12,557 cases in 2024 and 12,592 cases in 2025, resulting in a two-year total of 25,149 cases.
Contrasting Approaches to Stray Dog Management in Municipal Corporations
In her written reply during the question hour, Minister Itoo addressed the underlying issue of stray dog populations. She stated that there is no official report indicating an increase in the stray dog population within the Jammu Municipal Corporation limits.
However, the scenario differs in Srinagar. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) conducted a scientific population survey in 2023, which provided a concrete estimate. The survey revealed that there are approximately 64,416 stray dogs within SMC's jurisdiction.
To manage this significant population, SMC has taken proactive measures by outsourcing the management to an Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination programme. This initiative aims to control the stray dog population through sterilization and vaccination, thereby reducing the risk of rabies and other public health threats associated with dog bites.
The disclosure of these figures in the assembly has brought renewed attention to the public health challenge posed by stray dogs in Jammu and Kashmir. The data calls for enhanced efforts in animal population control, public awareness campaigns, and improved healthcare responses to dog bite incidents across the union territory.
