Bengaluru: A 76-year-old retired schoolteacher was mauled to death by a dozen street dogs during her morning walk in northern Bengaluru's Jalahalli on Wednesday, officials said.
The incident has once again brought the focus on civic apathy and the rising menace of uncared strays, especially on the city's outskirts.
The locality where the incident occurred around 6:30 am is prone to stray dog menace, according to officials.
Rajdulari Sinha, originally from Bihar, was taking a walk near her son-in-law’s residential quarters at the 7th residential camp, Air Force East, near Jalahalli, when a pack of 10-12 strays pounced on her and began mauling her, according to police.
"The attack lasted some time and the dogs bit the elderly woman all over her body, including her head, and gnawed at her," a police officer told DH.
Hemchand, who resides on the IAF campus, saw a distressed and severely injured Rajdulari and alerted her son-in-law, Amit Kumar Singh, an airman in the Indian Air Force (IAF). She was rushed to Ramaiah Hospital, where doctors pronounced her dead on arrival.
"The elderly victim sustained multiple grievous injuries and died on the way to the hospital," Saidulu Adavath, Deputy Commissioner of Police (North), said.
Screams for help
Harikrishnan, an eyewitness, posted on X: "It's a tragic scene in the morning itself. A dozen of stray dogs attack a lady. I shouted, and my family joined me, until a gentleman comes the dogs attacked. Jalahalli Air Force playground, Vidyaranyapura. I am guilty that I couldn't help her because of this wall. I was the helpless eyewitness. Due to their big wall, I couldn't save her. I shouted and called some people and they took her to hospital, but no use."
Its a tragic scene in the morning itself.Dozen of stray dogs attack a lady.I shouted,and my family joined me,until a gentleman comes the dogs attacked.Jalahalli Airforce playground,Vidyaranyapura.I am guilty that I couldnt help her because of this wall. @IAF_MCC @RajnathSingh_in pic.twitter.com/rccgoFM9OJ
— Harikrishnan (@smarthari) August 28, 2024
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) officials rushed to the spot and captured the dogs that had attacked the woman. The dogs have been shifted to a care centre in Medical Agrahara and will be neutered before release.
"A search is going on to check if there are other aggressive dogs in the area. All the captured dogs have been kept under observation," said Suralkar Vikas Kishore, Special Commissioner (Health and Animal Husbandry), BBMP.
Gangammana Gudi police, based on a complaint from Rajdulari’s son-in-law, registered an Unnatural Death Report (UDR) and began the probe. Rajdulari’s body was shifted for autopsy.
Horrors from the past
May 2021: 36-year-old labourer killed by pet Pitbull terrier in Yelahanka New Town
June 2019: 5-year-old boy attacked stray dogs in Soladevanahalli; dies at hospital
August 2018: 11-year-old boy mauled by dogs in Vibhutipura, succumbs at hospital
July 2011: A two-and-a-half-year-old boy was mauled to death by stray dogs in Yelahanka.
Jan 2007: Nine-year-old girl was mauled to death by street dogs in Vijayanagar.
(With inputs from Sneha R)