The Supreme Court, on Monday, issued strict directives to address the growing menace of stray dogs in the National Capital Region (NCR).
The top court ordered authorities in Delhi, Noida, and Gurugram to commence the capture of 5,000 stray dogs within six weeks, prioritising high-risk residential areas. The bench also mandated the establishment of dedicated dog shelters equipped with adequate staff and CCTV surveillance within eight weeks.
According to the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) data and recent surveys, Delhi has an estimated stray dog population of around 10 lakh.
That alone indicates the herculean task the authorities need to undertake over the next eight weeks. Added to that, constraints related to weather changes, relocation hiccups, along with the need to maintain the hygiene and well-being of the stray dogs.
To be noted, only a meagre 4.7 lakh were sterilised in 2023. This wide gap in sterilisation drives has significantly contributed to the sharp uptick in dog bite incidents and rabies cases.
Not just Delhi.
The problem extends beyond the national capital's borders, with neighbouring cities like Noida, Ghaziabad, and Greater Noida as well, battling a similar menace.
Noida has already reported over 52,700 dog bite cases from January to May 2025 alone, while Ghaziabad faces tens of thousands of stray dogs with rising attacks. Greater Noida likely has thousands of stray dogs, with sterilisation and tagging efforts underway, as is understood from data based on local authority data, bite case statistics, sterilisation campaign numbers, and court filings.
No official count is available yet, however.
Healthcare facilities across Delhi have been overwhelmed by the surge in dog bite victims in recent years.
The apex court, in its order on Monday, also stressed that sterilised dogs must not be released back onto the streets, warning of stringent action against any individuals or organisations obstructing these efforts or violating the guidelines.
Dog bite cases in Delhi surged from approximately 6,700 in 2022 to over 25,000 in 2024, according to Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP) data. This marks a staggering 277 percent jump in just two years.
Beyond the immediate injuries, the threat of rabies has been another key concern. India recorded nearly 5,700 rabies-related deaths in 2022-23, it has been learnt from a study published in The Lancet.
According to the MCD, over 100,000 sterilisation procedures were carried out in Delhi between late 2022 and early 2024. This, nevertheless, falls well short of the 70-80 percent sterilisation coverage necessary to effectively curb the population, believe experts.
Earlier this month, the civic body announced its plans to ramp up animal birth control centres, along with rolling out zone-wise anti-rabies awareness drives in a bid to combat the growing stray dog problem in the city.
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