Elderly Woman Fatally Attacked by Stray Dog in Kerala
Click to start listening
Thiruvananthapuram, Dec 24 (NationPress) In a heart-wrenching incident, an 88-year-old woman lost her life after being attacked by a stray dog in Kerala.
The deceased, Karthiyani Amma, had just arrived at her son’s home in Karthikapalli earlier on Tuesday. Reports indicate that the elderly woman was seated outside the residence when the dog launched its attack.
Due to her frail condition and multiple health issues, she was unable to defend herself.
Pankajakshan, a local resident, shared with IANS that no one was present at the home during the incident, and the dog had viciously mauled her face, even inflicting bites on both her eyes.
Neighbors quickly transported her to a nearby hospital, but she was pronounced dead upon arrival. The police have reported that a postmortem examination will be performed on Wednesday, after which her remains will be released to her family.
Kerala has been facing a rising tide of stray dog attacks.
The estimated population of stray dogs in the state stands at approximately 290,000, and these incidents have become a critical public safety concern.
According to a Right to Information (RTI) request from the State Health Department, rabies from stray dog bites has resulted in 47 fatalities in Kerala over the past four years.
In addition, there have been 22 probable rabies deaths reported during this timeframe, with the highest numbers recorded in 2022 and 2023.
Annual statistics reveal that there were five confirmed rabies deaths in 2020; 11 in 2021; 15 confirmed and 12 probable deaths in 2022; 15 confirmed and 10 probable deaths in 2023; and one confirmed death in January 2024.
The increasing frequency of such tragic events highlights the urgent need for effective strategies to manage the stray dog population and avert rabies outbreaks.
