The disclosure that Jammu and Kashmir recorded over two lakh dog bite cases during 2024–25 is more than a disturbing statistic—it is a stark reminder of a civic and public health crisis that has been simmering for years and is now spiraling out of control. With 2,06,460 reported cases across the Union Territory in just two years, the issue has clearly moved beyond sporadic incidents to assume the proportions of a mass safety concern.
The data, compiled from official health institutions and tabled in the ongoing Legislative Assembly, underscores the seriousness of the problem and points to systemic gaps in managing stray dogs and safeguarding public safety across the Union Territory.
What is particularly alarming is the steady rise in cases, from 93,765 in 2024 to 1,12,695 in 2025, indicating that existing interventions have failed to arrest the trend. Jammu district topping the list with 76,824 cases is a matter of grave concern, especially as it positions the winter capital as the epicentre of the crisis. Srinagar, too, presents a worrying picture, with over 35,000 cases reported during the same period, highlighting that urban centres are bearing the brunt of the menace.
The division-wise data further exposes the depth of the problem. The Jammu division alone accounted for more than 1.26 lakh cases, while the Kashmir division reported nearly 80,000. Districts like Kathua, Udhampur, Baramulla and Anantnag reporting thousands of cases each reflect the widespread nature of the issue. These are not mere numbers; behind each case lies the risk of rabies, repeated hospital visits, loss of workdays and an added burden on the public health system.
The government’s assertion that there is no reported increase in the stray dog population within Jammu Municipal Corporation limits sits uneasily with the scale of dog bite incidents reported from the district. In contrast, the scientific survey conducted by Srinagar Municipal Corporation in 2023, estimating over 64,000 stray dogs within city limits, at least acknowledges the magnitude of the challenge. Such inconsistencies in data and assessment only weaken policy responses and delay effective action.
Measures such as the animal birth control and anti-rabies vaccination (ABC-ARV) programme in Srinagar, and the proposed establishment of a third ABC-ARV centre at Ahal Chatterhama to significantly enhance sterilisation capacity, are welcome steps. However, officials themselves admit that high fertility rates among stray dogs continue to undermine these efforts. This calls for scaling up operations with urgency, adequate resources and strict timelines.
At the same time, compliance with Supreme Court directives—mandating sterilisation, vaccination and release as the only legally permissible method—must be ensured without using legal constraints as an excuse for administrative inertia. Humane treatment of animals and public safety are complementary objectives, not competing ones.
Jammu and Kashmir can ill afford to treat this as a routine municipal issue. What is needed is a coordinated, Union Territory-wide strategy involving municipal bodies, health departments and community awareness. Unless decisive action replaces piecemeal measures, the growing number of dog bite cases will continue to haunt streets, hospitals and headlines alike.
