The growing stray dog population in the Palampur region has become a serious public safety issue. Health authorities have recorded more than 50 dog bite cases every month in the Palampur and Baijnath subdivisions of Kangra district. Local residents say the situation is getting worse and they want faster action.
Stray dogs roaming across public spaces in Palampur and Baijnath
Residents report that packs of stray dogs can be seen roaming in markets, at bus stands, railway stations, on hospital premises, educational institutions, and residential colonies across Palampur, Baijnath, and Paprola. The presence of these dogs has created fear among pedestrians, schoolchildren, elderly people, and motorists.
The rising number of stray dogs has made daily life difficult for many people. Parents worry about their children walking to school. Elderly residents feel unsafe stepping out of their homes. Motorists face sudden encounters with dog packs on roads.
Residents allege slow progress on sterilisation drive
Local residents have expressed concern over the worsening situation. They allege that despite repeated assurances from civic authorities, efforts to control the stray dog population have yielded little visible progress. People say they have been asking for action for a long time, but the sterilisation drive has not kept pace with the growing number of stray dogs.
The demand from residents is clear — they want a faster sterilisation drive. They believe that without quicker action, the number of dog bite cases will keep rising and the fear among the public will only grow.
Why sterilisation is the key demand
Sterilisation is seen as the most effective long-term solution to control the stray dog population. Residents argue that the current pace of sterilisation is too slow to make any real difference. They want the civic authorities to speed up the process so that the number of stray dogs comes down and public spaces become safer.
The health authorities have recorded the data, and the residents have made their demand clear. What remains to be seen is how quickly the civic authorities respond to this growing public safety concern.
Our Take: Action must match the urgency
To put it plainly, the situation in Palampur and Baijnath is not new — residents have been raising this issue for a while. The fact that more than 50 dog bite cases are being recorded every month shows that this is not a minor problem. It is a public safety issue that affects children, the elderly, and everyone who steps out of their home.
What is troubling is the residents' claim that assurances have not translated into visible progress. When people repeatedly hear promises but see little change on the ground, trust in civic authorities erodes. The demand for a faster sterilisation drive is reasonable and practical. It is the most direct way to address the root cause — the growing stray dog population.
The authorities now have the data and the public's clear demand. The next step is simple: act with the urgency this situation deserves. Residents are not asking for anything extraordinary — they are asking for the promised sterilisation drive to actually happen at a pace that matches the scale of the problem.