A nine-year-old boy suffered at least 15 dog bites after being attacked by three stray dogs in the Salabatpura area of Surat on Sunday evening. The attack occurred when the child had gone with his family to buy clothes ahead of Eid.
Details of the Incident
The boy, the son of Mohammad Sabir Siddiqui, 36, is a Class 3 student. The family resides in Nawabni Chawl and originally hails from Kanpur, Uttar Pradesh. They earn a living through tailoring work and were scheduled to leave for their native place by train on Monday to celebrate Eid with relatives.
On Sunday, the family visited a clothing shop in Tirupati Market near Begumwadi. At that time, the boy stepped outside the shop. One stray dog grabbed him and dragged him to the ground. Within moments, two other dogs rushed in and attacked him.
CCTV Footage and Rescue
The attack was captured on CCTV camera, which shows the boy being dragged by one of the dogs. The incident took place in the basement of the market building. Sources indicate that the attack lasted approximately 40 seconds before passersby and the boy's father noticed and rushed out of the shop to rescue him. The dogs were driven away, but by then the child had sustained multiple bite injuries.
The boy suffered more than 15 bite wounds on his head, hands, and other parts of his body, leaving him bleeding. He was rushed to a hospital, where doctors began treatment and administered an anti-rabies vaccination.
Public Concern and Municipal Response
The incident has sparked concern among local residents, especially coming shortly after the Supreme Court's recent direction calling for strict action regarding dangerous dogs. The attack in a busy market area has again raised questions about the menace of stray dogs and public safety in the city.
A Surat Municipal Corporation (SMC) team visited the spot to remove the dogs, but they could not be found. An SMC officer stated, "During the recent sterilization and vaccination drive, the highest number of dogs covered were in the Central Zone and Limbayat Zone areas."
