Four-Year-Old Girl Killed in Stray Dog Attack in Hoshiarpur
A four-year-old girl, identified as Gungun, died after a pack of stray dogs mauled her on the Oharpur–Basi Jalal link road in Punjab's Hoshiarpur district on Sunday evening. The child was the daughter of migrant labourers from Uttar Pradesh who had come to the area for seasonal paddy transplantation work.
According to reports, the incident occurred around 7 pm when Gungun was resting under a tree near a tube-well motor, approximately 100 metres from where her parents were working in a farmer's field. Her father, Ram Jeevan, and mother, Preeti, residents of Dhyanpur village in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh, were transplanting paddy at the time.
Attack and Rescue Efforts
A pack of stray dogs suddenly attacked the child and dragged her some distance away. Hearing her screams, her parents and other family members rushed to the spot and found her critically injured. She was first taken to the Government Hospital in Tanda and later referred to a hospital in Hoshiarpur due to the severity of her injuries. Despite medical efforts, she succumbed to her injuries during treatment late on Sunday night.
The family had been staying in Basi Jalal village for seasonal paddy transplantation work. The incident has raised concerns among local residents, who said the stray dog menace has become a serious safety issue in the area. According to residents, stray dogs have been roaming in packs and have attacked several people in the past, but this is the first fatal incident involving a child.
Community Concerns and Safety Issues
Local residents have expressed fear and anger over the growing stray dog population, calling for immediate action from authorities. The attack highlights the vulnerability of migrant labourers and their families, who often work in isolated fields with little protection. Authorities have not yet announced any measures to address the stray dog problem in the area.
