• Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.
JKPC Youth President Mudasir Karim

Stray Dog Crisis in Srinagar a Public Health Emergency: JKPC Youth President Mudasir Karim Demands Urgent Action

Published on April 7, 2025

Advertisement

Srinagar | April 7, 2025 – The Youth President of Jammu and Kashmir Peoples Conference (JKPC), Mudasir Karim, has strongly condemned the rising stray dog attacks in Srinagar, describing the situation as a “public health emergency.” He criticized the administration for its continued neglect and failure to act on repeated warnings issued by healthcare professionals and civil society.

Reacting to multiple news reports, Karim expressed alarm over the shocking figure of 44 dog bite incidents reported in a single day, including 8 cases involving a suspected rabid dog in the Sekidafar locality. He stated that such incidents reflect the ineffectiveness of Srinagar Municipal Corporation’s Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, which remains stalled due to bureaucratic hurdles and poor tender management.

Despite tenders worth ₹3.56 crore being floated since early 2024, no agency has taken up the project, citing flawed tender conditions. Karim claimed that this crisis has been years in the making and that he had raised it multiple times through public platforms and formal correspondence, including a letter to the Ministry of Housing and Urban Affairs (MoHUA).

In a strongly worded post on X (formerly Twitter), he wrote:

“Enough is enough! 44 dog bite cases in one day—8 from a suspected rabid dog in Sekidafar. Our streets aren’t safe anymore. ABC program has failed. Why is there no urgency? Why is human life so undervalued?”

Mudasir also pointed to the connection between Srinagar’s non-vegetarian diet, inefficient garbage disposal, and the ever-growing stray dog population. According to SMHS Hospital, 5,883 dog bite cases were reported in 2024 alone, and at least 12 deaths have occurred due to rabies or trauma from dog attacks in the past three years.

He called for an urgent multi-pronged response from the SMC and J&K Government, including:

  • Strengthening sterilisation drives

  • Enforcing proper garbage disposal

  • Deploying rapid response teams in high-risk areas

  • Launching public awareness campaigns about safety and post-bite care

“This is not merely a civic issue—it’s about protecting lives. Children, the elderly, and ordinary citizens are scared to step out. We must act now,” Mudasir concluded, vowing that JKPC will continue to raise this issue until substantial measures are taken.

Advertisement
E-Paper

No epapers found.

Kashmir Weather
KASHMIR WEATHER
Breaking News
  • Bill Seeking Ban on Alcohol in J&K to be Introduced in Assembly
  • PDP MLA from Kupwara, Fayaz Ahmad Mir, has submitted a Private Member’s Bill seeking a complete ban on liquor in Jammu and Kashmir.
  • The bill, set to be introduced in the upcoming budget session of the J&K Assembly, proposes prohibition on the advertisement, sale, purchase, consumption, and manufacture of alcoholic beverages in the Union Territory.
  • Mir warned that the rising alcohol consumption poses a serious threat to society, stressing the need for strict legislation to curb the trend. The bill also proposes harsh penalties, including imprisonment and fines, for violations.