RAWALPINDI: Mohammad Ayan, a student in sixth grade who returned home during break, was asked by his mother to bring “roti” (bread) from a nearby shop when a stray dog bit him in the street before the child was rescued by the locals.

Ayan, 13, was among the seven children bitten by a stray dog in Ratta Amral in a span of a few hours on Monday and subsequently rushed to the emergency department of the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ). In addition, a young man identified as Kamran Amin Anjum was also among the victims.

Arslan Khan, a resident of Sultanabad, told Dawn that his brother Mohammad Ayan went to get bread from a nearby shop when a stray dog, who was sitting in the street, suddenly pounced on him, injuring him badly.

He said his brother was rescued by the residents who attacked the dog with bricks and sticks. According to Mr Khan, he along with his cousins rushed to the hospital where his injured brother and some other children were being treated for the same complaint.

Residents beat the canine to death in Ratta Amral

“The experience has left my brother physically and psychologically scarred and now he is afraid of all dogs,” he added.

Besides, the stray animal also bit six other children in the Ratta Amral area of Rawalpindi.

Three-year-old Insha was bitten allegedly by the same dog as he walked out of his house in Sultanabad.

Alam Zaib, the father of the victim, told Dawn that he was in a vegetable market when received a phone call that his son was bitten by a dog and was shifted to hospital with injuries.

He said that they had been advised by doctors to visit the hospital again on Wednesday as their child needed further medical treatment.

He said that the police had visited his house on Monday night and interviewed him as well as other residents of the area.

Two-year-old Arsal, one-and-a-half years old Aizal, four-year-old Kamran, eight-year-old Moeen, four-year-old Nisar Mohammad, six-year-old Mohammad Ameen, and Kamran Amin Anjum were the victims.

Mr Anjum, a businessman, was also bitten by the dog as he attempted to rescue his daughter Aizal and a nephew. However, along with the residents, he beat the dog to death with sticks and bricks. He claimed there were many patients with dog bites when they reached the DHQ hospital.

“We were given first aid at DHQ; however, we got vaccinated at NIH,” he added.

The children bitten by a stray dog were discharged after first aid treatment from the DHQ Hospital. Their injuries were believed not to be life-threatening.

Dr Waqar Hussain said the dog bite cases should be immediately shifted to the National Institute of Health (NIH) for vaccination.

Published in Dawn, October 30th, 2024