A seven-year-old boy was killed and his friend seriously injured after they were attacked by a stray dog in Kalyan, in Maharashtra’s Thane district, on Thursday afternoon. The incident has triggered anger and fear among residents, with many urging authorities to take immediate action to address the growing menace.
According to officials, the victim, Khushil Shankar Waghe, was playing near his home when a stray dog suddenly attacked him. Hearing his screams, his seven-year-old friend, Nilesh Bagle, rushed to help but was also bitten during the incident.
Both children were immediately taken to a nearby hospital for treatment. However, Khushil succumbed to his injuries while undergoing treatment. Nilesh is currently receiving treatment at a hospital in Thane and is reported to be in stable condition.
Waghe’s parents work as labourers in the city.
Residents alleged that the number of stray dogs in the area has been rising rapidly, with frequent attacks creating an atmosphere of fear among locals, particularly parents of young children.
Following the incident, Shiv Sena (Thackeray faction) corporator Tejashree Gaikwad and corporator Umesh Borgaonkar met officials of the Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation (KDMC) and demanded urgent measures. They called for the deployment of special squads to capture stray dogs, along with intensified sterilisation and vaccination drives to control the population.
Citizens have also urged the civic administration to take concrete and immediate steps to tackle the stray dog problem and prevent such tragedies in the future.
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Published On:
Feb 28, 2026 07:47 IST
