Srinagar, April 10 -- So, the issue is no longer a minor public nuisance. The rising dog bites, together with growing canine population, are a serious public health concern demanding immediate government intervention.

The data speaks for itself: Jammu and Kashmir recorded over 51,000 dog bite cases in 2024, up from around 34,000 the previous year, and more than double the 22,000 reported in 2022. The menace seems to have only further grown this year. with 4,824 cases reported in January.. In Ladakh too, the numbers have nearly doubled since 2022. Thankfully, no rabies-related deaths have been reported in recent years, but there is every possibility that rising dog bites may lead to fatalities.

Hence we urgently require a pro-active gove...