Stray Dog Pack Terrorizes Young Girl in Upscale Dombivli Township
A horrifying incident unfolded on Monday morning in the upscale Palava township of Dombivli's Khoni area, where a nine-year-old girl was chased and attacked by a pack of approximately 10 stray dogs within her housing society premises. The child, identified as Swara Nikam, was heading to school when the terrifying ordeal began.
Security Guard's Quick Action Prevents Physical Harm
According to CCTV footage from Orchid Society, Swara stepped out of her house around 7am and was initially set upon by a single stray dog. As she backed away in fear, more dogs surrounded her, eventually chasing her when she began to run. Hearing her desperate cries for help, security guard Vikas Pandey rushed to the scene along with several residents who were on their morning walk.
Pandey bravely intervened, chasing the aggressive dogs away with a stick and allowing the frightened girl to escape to safety. While Swara miraculously avoided physical injuries, her father Dattatraya Nikam confirmed that the traumatic experience has left her severely shaken and emotionally distressed.
Jurisdictional Dispute Hinders Sterilization Efforts
The attack has sparked outrage among local residents, who revealed that the stray dog population in the area has ballooned to approximately 150 animals. Community members have repeatedly reached out to the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) seeking assistance with sterilization programs, only to be told that Palava township falls under the jurisdiction of Khoni gram panchayat, which lacks proper dog sterilization facilities.
"This passing of responsibility between administrative bodies has created a dangerous vacuum in animal population control," explained local resident Mahesh Thombre, highlighting the bureaucratic hurdles preventing effective solutions.
Root Causes and Previous Incidents
Dattatraya Nikam pointed to unauthorized feeding spots within the housing society as a primary factor contributing to the sharp increase in stray dog numbers. Security guard Vikas Pandey corroborated concerns about public safety, noting that stray dogs had attacked other individuals in the past as well.
The incident has intensified demands from residents for the administration to implement a comprehensive mechanism to control the growing stray dog population. With jurisdictional confusion between municipal and panchayat authorities, community members fear similar attacks could occur unless immediate action is taken.
