Residents of Battur, Kundrahalli, Kundrahalli Tanda, and Shetty Kere villages in Lakshmeshwar taluk, Gadag district, are staying indoors due to fear of rabies from stray dog attacks. Multiple cases of dog bites, affecting children, cows, sheep, and goats, have been reported. In Battur alone, 20 dog bites occurred in the past 40 days, and a cow recently died after being bitten by a stray dog.
Adding to the fear, several dogs have died in these villages over the past three months, raising concerns about possible rabies. Health officials have launched a vaccination drive and awareness camps. A 17-year-old girl recently died after being bitten by a stray dog, further fueling anxiety, though the cause of her death remains unclear.
A Bengaluru-based NGO is set to visit the villages to catch the stray dogs.
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