India, Jan. 22 -- At least 32 people, including seven women and five children, have been critically injured after they were mauled by a pack of stray dogs in Nai village of Punhana subdivision in Nuh over the past fortnight, residents and local leaders said on Wednesday. The official count provided by authorities, however, stands at 16, though they acknowledge the actual number may be far higher.

Authorities have made public announcements using loudspeakers in Nai and neighbouring villages asking residents to keep women and children indoors until the dogs involved in the attacks are caught, amid fears that some may be infected with rabies.

Officials said Nai is the epicentre of the attacks, but alerts have also been issued in Jamalgarh,...