Panchkula, June 5 -- Residents of Panchkula are increasingly carrying sticks for protection during their morning and evening walks, a direct consequence of a surging stray dog population and a two-month halt in sterilisation efforts.

As per the livestock Census-2019, there were 2,340 dogs in Panchkula. An MC official informed, no new survey was conducted recently.

The municipal corporation (MC) acknowledged the stalled sterilization drive, stating that a new tender is currently undergoing technical scrutiny and will be allotted soon. Meanwhile, daily dog bite cases at civil hospital, Sector-6, range from 12 to 15.

Mayor Kulbhushan Goyal said 300 to 400 dog bite cases are reported every month.

Despite a November 2023 directive from the...