In a horrifying incident earlier this week, a stray dog attacked five people — four of them children — within just 20 minutes in a village in Taloja, Navi Mumbai.
The attacks, which took place between 7:15 pm and 7:35 pm on Friday, have left residents shaken and furious.
The most serious victim was three-year-old Mustafa Ali, who was mauled the moment he stepped outside his home in the Mannat Ali area. The dog tore into his face, leaving his upper lip almost severed and deep wounds on his nose and forehead.
A CCTV camera captured the brutal attack, showing the terrified child screaming as the dog bit him repeatedly. Neighbours rushed to rescue the boy, but the disturbing footage has since spread across the community, fueling anger and fear among locals.
Residents say the stray dog population in Taloja has surged, and despite numerous complaints, no effective action has been taken by the authorities.
After widespread outrage, the Panvel Municipal Corporation (PMC) sent a dog-catching team, which managed to capture the animal. However, locals dismissed it as a temporary solution, demanding a sustained effort to control the menace.
The magnitude of the issue is reflected in official figures — nearly 6,000 dog bite cases were reported in Panvel city in the first nine months of 2025, averaging 22 incidents every day.
A PMC official stated, “An AI-based survey conducted in March identified more than 19,000 stray dogs and 5,000 cats within the PMC limits. In response, we have established 15 rabies clinics across 26 urban primary health centres and completed 72% of planned vaccinations for strays.”
Despite these measures, residents say they continue to live in fear, urging the authorities to implement stricter and permanent control measures to prevent such attacks in the future.
