More than 160 people have reportedly been bitten by stray dogs in Maharashtra’s Kalyan within 24 hours, with an 11-year-old girl seriously injured and shifted to a Mumbai hospital as panic spread across several parts of the city.
The attacks were reported from Sunday afternoon to Monday, with pedestrians, two-wheeler riders and local residents among those bitten. The worst-hit area was around Sandeep Hotel on Birla College Road in Khadakpada, Kalyan West, where a stray dog allegedly attacked more than 60 people.
The attacks have also put the spotlight on Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation’s efforts to control the stray dog population, with local residents questioning why immediate action was not taken despite complaints.
DOG ATTACKS SPREAD ACROSS KALYAN
The attacks began on Sunday in the Sandeep Hotel area on Birla College Road, where a stray dog allegedly started chasing pedestrians, motorcycles and autorickshaws before biting people.
According to local residents, the dog did not remain confined to one road. It moved through nearby lanes, housing societies and open spaces, allegedly attacking people it encountered.
Residents around Birla College, the old RTO office and Bhoirwadi were left frightened.
Even though it was a Sunday, several families reportedly kept their children indoors. Parents also stopped children from playing in society grounds amid fears of further attacks.
58 PATIENTS ON SUNDAY, 103 MORE ON MONDAY
Rukminibai Hospital recorded 58 dog-bite patients on Sunday, while another 103 cases were reported by 4 pm on Monday.
The patients came from different parts of Kalyan, including areas around the railway station and ST bus depot.
Many of those injured reached Rukminibai Hospital, where they were given treatment and anti-rabies injections before being discharged.
Chief Medical Officer Sulochana Tribhuvan said 58 dog-bite cases had been recorded until midnight on Sunday, followed by 103 cases by 4 pm on Monday.
She said patients were being treated according to the severity of their injuries, including cases involving nail marks, scratches and bleeding or deep wounds.
Of the latest cases, 46 patients with bleeding and deep wounds were classified as serious and admitted for specialised treatment.
Serious patients are being given rabies immunoglobulin, or RIG, while others are receiving anti-rabies vaccine, or ARV.
The hospital administration said there was sufficient stock of both injections.
11-YEAR-OLD GIRL SERIOUSLY INJURED
An 11-year-old girl was among those attacked and suffered serious injuries.
She was shifted to Lokmanya Tilak Hospital in Sion, Mumbai, for further treatment.
The attacks have also prompted residents to raise concerns about the safety of children and people using roads, public transport and other busy areas of Kalyan.
KDMC LAUNCHES DOG-CATCHING DRIVE
The attacks have forced the KDMC administration to step up its response.
KDMC Commissioner Abhinav Goyal and Mayor Harshali Thavil inspected the dog sterilisation and vaccination centre at Patripul following the incidents.
Mayor Harshali Thavil said civic teams had been trying to catch the dogs since the night of the attacks.
“We have been trying to catch the dogs since last night. The dogs that have been caught are being given rabies injections, and the administration has been instructed to speed up the sterilisation work,” she said.
QUESTIONS OVER KDMC’S STRAY DOG CONTROL
The incident has once again raised questions over the management of stray dogs in Kalyan-Dombivli.
The KDMC spends lakhs of rupees every year on sterilisation and anti-rabies injections for stray dogs. However, the large number of attacks reported within a short period has led to questions over the effectiveness of the civic body’s measures.
Local residents alleged that despite complaints, immediate action was not taken to catch the dog.
They questioned why the municipal corporation’s dog sterilisation centre was not alerted and the dog-catching operation launched immediately when people began reaching hospitals with bite injuries.
‘NO PLANNING’ IN KALYAN, SAYS THACKERAY FACTION LEADER
Thackeray faction group leader Umesh Borgavkar criticised the KDMC administration over its response to the attacks.
“After such a big incident, the administration has woken up and is now showing how alert it has become. This is shameful,” Borgavkar said.
He accused the civic administration of lacking proper planning despite repeated claims about development and the city’s Smart City plans.
“There is no planning in the municipal corporation. Smart City is talked about — this will happen, that will happen. Figures of Rs 300 crore, Rs 500 crore are thrown around to show how much development has happened,” he said.
“But a mad dog roams around the city and bites 200-500 people, and we are unable to do anything. This is shameful,” Borgavkar said.
The latest attacks have brought the issue of stray dog control back into focus, with residents demanding faster action to prevent further attacks and ensure that vulnerable groups, particularly children, remain safe.
– Ends
Published By:
Sonali Verma
Published On:
Aug 10, 2026 20:50 IST
