Stray dogs attack woman in Haridwar, raises concerns among locals

Haridwar: A 40-year-old woman was attacked by a pack of stray dogs in the Qassban Colony area of Haridwar in Uttarakhand on Sunday. A video of the incident, widely shared on social media, has raised concerns about the growing menace of stray dogs in urban pockets of the state.
In the video, the woman, Nazma, was seen falling to the ground as the dogs continued to bite her. Local residents rushed to her aid and managed to save her. They said that this was not an isolated incident, as street dogs often attack commuters, including children and the elderly.
Nazma, a widow, sustained injuries to her elbow and leg. Expressing distress over the attack, she said, "I was fasting and on my way to work in SIDCUL. As the sole breadwinner of my family, I am worried about who will look after my children now."
Local resident Sachin Tayal told TOI, "Not only in Qassban, the dog menace haunts the entire Jwalapur region. Illegal meat shops are the main cause behind it. The administration is aware, but no action has been taken despite repeated complaints."
In response to the incident, the Haridwar municipal corporation caught six dogs from Qassban. Municipal commissioner Nandan Kumar said, "We have a dog sterilisation centre where the sterilisation process is ongoing. We caught six dogs from the area, and a special drive will start soon."