Bhatkal: Seven people, including two children, were injured in dog attacks in various parts of Bhatkal taluk on Sunday.A child among them was given Rabies vaccine at a private hospital while six others were treated at the Bhatkal Government Hospital.

According to the report provided by Bhatkal Government Hospital, a total of six dog attack cases had been registered from morning till evening 8 pm yesterday. The first incident took place at Gorte, followed by Sodigedde, Mood Bhatkal, Dongarapalli, Hanuman Nagar and lastly at Navayat Colony around 8 pm. 

It is learned that when a dog attacked a four-year-old boy outside a wedding hall in Navayat Colony at around 8 pm, Asim Afandi (32), a youth who was standing nearby rushed to the child's rescue. He managed to save the child from the clutches of the dog, but in this attempt the dog attacked Asim.

Asim said that the wedding ceremony was going on in the wedding hall when suddenly he heard a child crying outside and ran towards him. In the gesture of trying to rescue the child from the clutches of stray dog, he himself got injured as the dog bit his leg and injured his arm. The dog also tried to attack his father and others nearby but then more people arrived and tried to defend themselves by lifting chairs, during which the dog ran away.

The injured child has been identified as Bilal son of Imran Khushal. Imran said that he had come to the wedding hall with his family from Takiya Street. He got down from the auto rickshaw and entered the hall, the child was entering from the back when a stray dog attacked him. Bilal sustained severe injuries on his face and was taken to a nearby private hospital where he received injections and treatment. 

Asim Afandi administered the necessary injections from Bhatkal taluka Govt hospital.

It may be recalled that same day a 20-month-old child was attacked by a dog at Dongar Palli around 3 pm, with severe injuries on his face and nose.The child was taken to Udupi Hospital after being  treated at Bhatkal Government Hospital initially.

There are reports of dog attacks in different parts of the taluk. Local public said that not only children but also adults are afraid to step out of the house. By posting their views on social media, they are expressing their outrage over the fact that the municipal council and the taluk administration have not taken any action regarding the issue even after multiple cases. The early morning school going children are the ones with the greater risk as the streets are less crowded at the time and are mostly ruled by litter of dogs. With the recent incidents, the parents are greatly disturbed and are reluctant to make their children stand outside their houses to wait for school transport. Everybody are keeping their hopes on the concerned authorities to tackle the stray dog menace at the earliest.