Hyderabad is reeling with stray dog menace
Hyderabad: A five month old infant from Shaikpet, five year old boy from Amberpet and one year old boy from Shamshabad although these kids are from different parts of the city one thing is common among all of them. They are all victims of dog attacks. Hyderabad is reeling with stray dog menace. According to credible media reports, nearly 9,208 cases of dog bites were reported in the last four months, which is 34 percent of the overall dog bite case in 2023 prompting concerns over the dog menace.
In the month of December 2023, a five month old infant was attacked by a pack of dogs in Shaikpet in the absence of his family. After battling 17 days for his life he succumbed to the dog injuries while undergoing treatment in Osmania General Hospital. In the month of February last year in Amberpet, a five year old boy was mauled by a pack of dogs resulting in his death. The incident which was captured in CCTV prompted huge uproar among the Hyderabad citizens, who later demanded to take strict action to eradicate the street dog menace.
Hyderabad’s Dog Bite Crisis: 70 dog bites every day, 2 deaths every month
Doctors warn to be cautious in summer, as dogs may become more aggressive due to dehydration and hunger.
In Hyderabad, nearly 70 people are being bitten by stray dogs every day, with at least two deaths… pic.twitter.com/Wlo5pvQYiR
— Sudhakar Udumula (@sudhakarudumula) April 24, 2024
Alarming rise in cases
In the past we have witnessed dog attacks in which toddlers lost their lives. Some of the dog attack cases which were captured by the camera- sent down the shivers among the viewers. Dog bite cases skyrocketed over the years from 19,847 cases in 2022 to 26,349 cases in 2023. Even more alarming is the rabies cases which stood at 54 in the last five years. Especially this year at least two deaths in a month caused due to rabies disease were reported in the last four months
Meanwhile, doctors say that usually the dog bite cases soar during the summer season and doctors reasons that this change of behaviour in dogs is due to the escalation of aggressive nature of dogs due to dehydration and hunger in the season.
CM Revanth Reddy reorganizes disaster management for Greater Hyderabad
HYDERABAD: Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy has decided to assign critical responsibilities to the Disaster Management Department within Greater Hyderabad. He has directed officials to implement structural changes and redistribute responsibilities accordingly. In a review meeting at the Secretariat on Monday evening, the Chief Minister discussed the reorganization with officials from Municipal Administration, HMDA, and Musi Development.
Expansion of disaster management responsibilities
Recognizing the geographic expansion of Hyderabad, the Chief Minister ordered the Disaster Management Department to extend its jurisdiction to the Outer Ring Road. He suggested including GHMC, 27 surrounding municipalities and corporations, and 33 gram panchayats within its service area. The department will be renamed the Hyderabad Disaster Response and Assets Monitoring Protection (HYDRA). The Chief Minister proposed appointing a DIG-level officer as the director and SP-level officers as additional directors. He also recommended special teams from GHMC, HMDA, the Water Board, city traffic, and other departments to join this new division.
The Chief Minister emphasized the need for the Disaster Management Department to offer continuous services to city residents, not just during floods or emergencies. HYDRA should actively address all issues faced by Hyderabad’s citizens, including preserving the city’s tanks and ponds, protecting government properties from encroachments, and managing hoardings and flex banners. Additionally, HYDRA will oversee water pipelines, electricity supply lines, drainage, flood management, and traffic control.
Focus on heritage and infrastructure projects
Chief Minister Reddy directed the acceleration of the Musi River Development Project, aiming to elevate Hyderabad’s international reputation. He stressed the importance of working towards the government’s goal of transforming this project into a landmark. He also ordered officials to take necessary actions to restore historical buildings and structures within the city. The GHMC presented a PowerPoint on various heritage sites, such as the City Library, Charminar Ayurvedic Hospital, and Nizamia Observatory etc. The Chief Minister encouraged exploring ways to develop these sites for tourism and integrating feasible ones into the Musi River Development Project.
The Chief Minister instructed Chief Secretary Shantikumar to draft a comprehensive reorganization plan, including staffing, duties, and budget allocations for HYDRA. He also emphasized identifying key areas where the Disaster Management Department can enhance its operations.
The meeting included Chief Secretary Shantikumar, Principal Secretary of Municipal Administration and Urban Development Danakishore, GHMC Commissioner Amrapali, GHMC Vigilance Disaster Management Commissioner A.V. Ranganath, and Hyderabad Water Board MD Ashok Reddy.
