Rourkela, Jul 15: Rourkela, Odisha’s steel city, is grappling with an alarming surge in stray dog attacks, as more than 2,600 bite cases have beenreported in the past three months. The crisis has left residents fearful and civic authorities facing mounting criticism for failing to act.

Despite repeated complaints, the Rourkela Municipal Corporation (RMC) has not deployed dog-catching vehicles in the city, while its sterilisation centre has remained locked for over a year. As a result, stray dogs have multiplied unchecked, roaming freely across wards and sectors, chasing pedestrians and motorcyclists, and creating panic in residential areas.

Hospital records highlight the gravity of the situation. “We are witnessing 15 to 20 dog bite cases daily,” said Pandit Sahu, Deputy Superintendent of the Government Hospital. Victims like Sheha Kumari, bitten near her home, recount the trauma and fear that now grips neighbourhoods, particularly after dusk.

The city’s sterilisation centre, built at considerable expense to control the canine population, lies deserted. Its gates remain locked, kennels empty, and staff absent. “The centre has been non-functional for over a year due to operational issues,” admitted RMC Commissioner Dheenah Dastageer, while assuring that sterilisation work would resume soon.
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Residents, however, remain sceptical. With sterilisation stalled and dog-catching drives absent, the canine population continues to rise. The absence of a sustained sterilisation and vaccination programme has turned Rourkela’s streets into zones of fear, especially for children and the elderly.

Experts warn that without a coordinated approach — combining sterilisation, vaccination, and public awareness — the menace will only worsen. For now, Rourkela’s residents remain anxious, navigating streets where stray dogs have become an everyday threat.