Bhiwandi Faces Rising Stray Dog Crisis; Over 10,000 Citizens Bitten in 11 Months

The growing stray dog problem in Bhiwandi has reached a critical level. From January to November, a total of 10,140 citizens were bitten by dogs.

Last year, the municipal corporation had launched a sterilisation and vaccination drive for stray dogs. However, after outsourcing the work to an organisation based in Hyderabad, the pace of the program slowed drastically, leaving 40% of the city’s stray dogs yet to be sterilised.

According to data from the IGM Sub-District Hospital, January recorded the highest number of bites at 1,066, while September had the lowest at 661. On 28 November alone, 72 citizens were admitted to the hospital with dog bites, of which 20 were from Shantinagar and most were children.

Hospital officials stated that anti-rabies vaccines are generally available in sufficient quantities, but sudden spikes in cases sometimes lead to temporary shortages.

“On 28 November, we saw 72 bite incidents in a single day. There was a brief shortage of vaccines, but new stock was immediately arranged, so treatment was not affected,” said Dr. Izhahar Ansari (In-Charge, IGM Hospital).

Hospital superintendent Dr. Madhavi Pandhare added that the hospital is always committed to providing timely treatment.

Slow Sterilization and Growing Fear Among Citizens

Citizens have expressed concerns that problems like garbage accumulation, street filth, and delays in the sterilisation drive have worsened the situation. Children, women, and workers traveling early morning or evening are particularly fearful. To reduce stray dog numbers and prevent rabies, the Bhiwandi-Nizampur City Municipal Corporation (BNCMC) had decided in 2024 to sterilise and vaccinate around 13,500 dogs.

An operation theater was set up behind the STP plant near Eidgah slaughterhouse, and sterilisation work began on 11 November 2024. The municipal corporation had signed a five-year contract with Wets Society for Animal Welfare and Rural Development, Safilguda, Hyderabad. The approved rates were INR 1,440 per male dog and INR 1,490 per female dog.

However, after a year, the results have been disappointing. From 11 November 2024 to 30 November 2025, only 5,336 dogs (39.52%) were sterilised including 2,833 males and 2,503 females.

Municipal sources said that the contractor has insufficient staff, leading to a severe slowdown in operations. Meanwhile, the stray dog population continues to rise. Efforts to contact the contractor have reportedly failed. Citizens and social organisations are demanding immediate, faster, and responsible action to prevent further attacks and ensure public safety.

Dog Bite Cases in 2025 (1 January – 30 November)

Total (Jan–Nov): 10,140 cases

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