Stray dog that bit 29 people in Chennai had rabies; GCC urges victims to get second anti-rabies shot

Following the incident, the GCC administered anti-rabies vaccines to more than 40 dogs in the Old Washermanpet area. “We have kept 31 dogs captured from the locality under observation for two days,” said a GCC official from Zone 5. 

Also Read: Chennai stray dog attack: 29 bitten people given anti-rabies vaccines

GCC’s measures not enough

However, the dog-bite victims and their families were not pleased with the GCC’s efforts.

“Can such an incident occur in such a prime locality elsewhere? Stray dog menace is a huge problem in neighbourhoods such as Old Washermanpet but not in localities such as Adyar or Besant Nagar,” a GA Road resident opined. 

Farook Ahmed (48), whose younger brother Mansoor Ali was bitten by the dog on Tuesday, termed the GCC’s efforts as “too little and too late”.

“I have not noticed GCC officials taking steps to keep the stray dog population under check before this incident,” he told South First. 

Mansoor Ali, a native of Karur district, has been working at a textile shop at Old Washermanpet, along with his brother Ahmed. He had gone to the godown to replenish stock when the dog bit him on the leg. 

The brothers were in for a surprise when they went to Stanley Hospital. “We saw at least 10 students and residents waiting for anti-rabies vaccines. They were all bitten by the same dog,” Ahmed said.