A 26-year-old man in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh narrowly escaped an attack by a pack of stray dogs on Friday afternoon. Shashank Saxena was unharmed after the dogs chased him in the Gulmohar Screen Society while he was returning home from buying groceries. He managed to evade danger by finding a corner to distance himself from the animals.

The incident has alarmed local residents, who say the number of stray dogs in the society has been rising, making it unsafe for children to play outside. Despite multiple complaints to the municipal corporation, no significant action has been taken. Residents have urged authorities to sterilise and vaccinate stray dogs and keep them in controlled areas, citing Supreme Court directives on the matter.

In a recent hearing, the Supreme Court criticised the Centre and state governments for failing to implement Animal Birth Control (ABC) rules, warning of heavy compensation for bite and death victims. The bench also suggested making dog feeders liable for attacks, highlighting the lifelong impact of such incidents. “The problem has multiplied due to government inaction. For every victim of a dog bite, heavy compensation will be imposed on the responsible authorities,” said Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta and NV Anjaria.