Srinagar, Feb 22: While the Srinagar Municipal Corporation is making tall claims to keep the city clean, tons of garbage dumped on various streets was proving to be a source of inconvenience for the people. The problem gets compounded by the presence of countless dogs who roam around these garbage dumps.
 Delegations from various city areas accused the Srinagar Municipal Corporation of acting as mute spectators to the Dog menace. “Due to presence of dogs it has become difficult for us to venture out of our houses during mornings and evenings. The dogs have so far bitten dozens of people including children. We had approached the Municipal authorities but they did not act. The dogs have made our lives a hell,” residents of Khayam and its adjoining areas complained.
 People complained that dogs take over the streets near the areas housing restaurants and hotels. The dogs are seen in large numbers in and around the commercial hubs of Residency Road, Lal Chowk and Tourist Reception Centre, which are frequently visited by the tourists.
 “We wonder why the SMC authorities are desisting from elimination these dogs. It seems they want to appease people at helm of affairs in New Delhi at the cost of Kashmiris safety,” Muhammad Ashraf a local said.
 There is widespread anger in the city against the SMC Commissioner and Mayor. The residents in different areas said the Mayor was only interested in photo-ops and he was doing least for the welfare of people. “The mayor assures he would end the menace of stray dogs, but does nothing,” said a Jawahar Nagar resident.
 The residents of Mandir Bagh and Basant Bagh in the civil lines said that they had to accompany their children to tuition centres in the early morning fearing dog attacks. “Their have been many incidents of dog bites in the area and the kids are afraid of walking lonely on the roads,” Abdul Hameed of Mandar Bagh said adding that packs of dogs are seen roaming around freely. 
 Though SMC had claimed to initiate sterilization of dogs but drive was yet to take off.
 According to Lecturer SPM, Government Medical College, Dr. S. Muhammad Salim Khan, 2040 dog bites cases were reported from Srinagar City alone in 2009.  Dr Salim who is also the life-Member, Association for Prevention & Control of Rabies in India, said the first symptoms of rabies are usually non-specific and suggest involvement of the respiratory, gastrointestinal and/or central nervous systems.
 “In the acute stage, signs of hyperactivity (furious rabies) or paralysis (dumb rabies) predominate. In both furious and dumb rabies, paralysis eventually progresses to complete paralysis followed by coma and death in all cases, usually due to respiratory failure. Without intensive care, death occurs during the first seven days of illness,” he said.
 He said sterilization of female dogs, was not viable. “By the time 100 dogs are sterilized, there will be more than birth of another 1,000. He said in view on ban on killing of dogs, only intervention of judiciary or a new legislation can help to check the menace.

DOGS BITE MAN
Srinagar: A man was attacked by dogs at Jadgari Mohalla, Nowhatta in the Shahr-e-Khas.
 According to the residents, the dogs attacked and wounded Habibullah Misger, who was later shifted to hospital for treatment.

Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Feb 2010 21:30:00 Makkah time
Lastupdate on : Sun, 21 Feb 2010 18:30:00 GMT
Lastupdate on : Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:00:00 IST