Pune: A 43-year-old woman, who works in a private firm in the Chakan industrial area, was seriously injured in an attack by a pack of stray dogs in Medankarwadi around 6am on Sunday.The woman, identified as Malu Shinde, was standing in a deserted stretch on her way to work at the time.Her son Rutvik Shinde, who also works in a private firm in the MIDC area, told TOI, “My mother missed her bus on Sunday morning, so she was waiting alone at the regular stop. A few dogs reached the spot and attacked her suddenly, biting both her legs, hands and head before anyone could intervene.”A gram panchayat staffer, who happened to be nearby, rushed to her aid, while some residents chased the dogs away, Rutvik said.“They gave me a call and we took her to Chakan rural hospital.Due to the severity of her injuries and blood loss, doctors referred her to Yashwantrao Chavan Memorial Hospital in Pimpri for advanced treatment, where she got the required medicalaid. Her condition is stable and she has been discharged from the hospital,” he added.The rural hospital’s medical superintendent Dr Sachin Kamble said the woman had multiple deep wounds and was in a state of shock when admitted. “Immediate medical intervention was necessary. After providing the necessary basic treatment, she was sent to YCMH,” he said.On March 16, a 32-year-old woman was attacked by a pack of stray dogs off the Pune-Nashik highway in Chakan around 2am, and later succumbed to her injuries. Residents of the area said such repeated incidents highlight administrative negligence and lack of a structured policy to control the stray dog population.Kamble added, “In the last few months, we have handled five to six daily dog bite cases from across Khed tehsil. We have also written to the authorities concerned to take necessary measures in their limits.”The latest incident triggered outrage among residents of Medankarwadi and surrounding areas, who said packs of aggressive stray dogs pose a threat to pedestrians, especially during early morning and late evening hours.One such resident demanded intervention from civic authorities and said, “It is risky, especially for children and elderly people. Despite repeated complaints, no concrete action has been taken.”Citizens have demanded immediate measures, including sterilisation and vaccination drives, and stopping illegal relocation of dogs from other territories to theirs. They also called for better street lighting and increased patrolling in vulnerable areas.Officials from the Chakan Municipal Council and local gram panchayats have acknowledged the concerns and said steps are being planned to address them. Residents pointed out that such assurances in the past did not translate into tangible results.“The action authorities claim to have taken is not visible on ground. They must step up these efforts,” said resident Kiran Kad, adding, “The fresh incident underscores an urgent need for a coordinated and effective response to manage the stray dog population.”
