LUCKNOW, Sept. 29 -- Jairam, 76, a resident of Barabanki, was brutally attacked by more than six stray dogs on Sunday morning while walking to his field. For nearly half an hour, he screamed in agony as the animals tore at his legs and thigh, leaving him bleeding heavily. Villagers from nearby fields rushed toward the cries, pelting stones and swinging sticks to drive the dogs away before pulling him to safety. The horrifying attack occurred on World Rabies Day, a cruel irony that underscored the deadly risks of aggressive stray dogs despite the state's recent policy measures.

Jairam's family first took him to a nearby hospital in Barabanki, then to Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences (RMLIMS), Lucknow. Due to the critical na...