A 12-year-old boy from Maharashtra’s Thane district died nearly three weeks after being bitten by a stray dog, triggering serious allegations of negligence and shortage of medicines at government hospitals involved in his treatment.
Dog bite incident and initial treatment
The incident occurred on January 10 in Bhiwandi, when the child was bitten by a stray dog while playing near his residence. He was immediately taken to the state-run IGM Hospital, where doctors administered anti-rabies and tetanus injections, according to hospital officials.
Due to his condition, the boy was referred to Thane Civil Hospital for further care. However, he was later brought back to Bhiwandi and discharged. The family has claimed that they were not clearly informed about the complete post-exposure rabies protocol or the need for continued monitoring.
Condition worsens, child dies in Mumbai
Over the following weeks, the boy’s health reportedly deteriorated. Alarmed by his worsening condition, the family rushed him to a civic hospital in Mumbai, where he died on January 30. Doctors have stated that it is not yet conclusively established whether the cause of death was rabies or another medical complication, and further assessment is underway.
Allegations of negligence and medicine shortage
Bhiwandi MLA Rais Shaikh has alleged serious lapses in the child’s treatment, citing shortages of essential medicines and negligence by hospital staff. He has demanded a thorough inquiry into the handling of the case and accountability for any failures in the public healthcare system.
The incident has renewed concerns about stray dog management, awareness of rabies post-exposure treatment, and the readiness of government hospitals to handle such potentially fatal cases.