Pune:A dog on DP Road near Mhatre Bridge was captured by civic authorities after it allegedly bit five people in the area on Tuesday.The victims, who later sought anti-rabies treatment at Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital (DMH), alerted authorities. A dog-catching squad was immediately deployed, and after an extensive search, the suspected animal was located near Mahalaxmi Lawns. Although the dog was captured, it died during transportation. This raised serious concerns among doctors and civic officials about a possible rabies infection outbreak.Dr Sarika Funde, head of Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) veterinary department, said, “As soon as we received the information, we sent a team to capture the dog, and it was successfully trapped. Unfortunately, it died on the way. The team failed to collect samples before the body was incinerated at Naidu Infectious Diseases Hospital. So, we cannot conclusively determine whether the dog was rabid.”“Protocol mandates that samples from animals suspected of rabies be collected after death, but the team failed to do so,” Funde added.The incident came to light when three individuals arrived consecutively at the hospital seeking treatment for dog bites. Upon inquiry, doctors found that all three had been bitten at nearly the same location within a short period. Suspecting a larger threat, the hospital alerted the Alankar police station. Acting on the information, constable Tushar Salunkhe informed senior officials, following which senior inspector Ulhas Kadam coordinated with relevant departments to initiate immediate action.Police then contacted municipal officials, and further inquiry revealed that the dog had bitten a total of five people.Speaking about rabies, Dr Jyotsna Bhosale of DMH, who treated the patients, said, “Immediate administration of anti-rabies vaccination and proper wound care can effectively prevent the disease. However, once symptoms develop, rabies is almost always fatal, underscoring the importance of rapid intervention. The patients will return for follow-up vaccinations. We will continue to monitor them.”Civic data shows a steady rise in dog bite cases in the city. In 2022, as many as 16,569 incidents were recorded. This increased to 22,945 in 2023; 25,899 in 2024; and 31,649 cases in 2025.
