Shillong, April 24: Panic gripped Lad Nongkrem village near Shillong on Thursday morning after a stray dog went on a biting spree, injuring at least nine people, most of them schoolchildren. The sudden attacks created fear among residents as the dog moved through the locality targeting multiple individuals within a short span of time.
One of the most concerning cases involved a three-year-old child, identified as Aibapynkmen Mawthoh, who was reportedly attacked inside her home while playing. According to her mother, Binolis Mawthoh, the child ran to her crying after the incident and said she had been bitten by a dog. At the time of the attack, the mother had briefly stepped out to wash clothes while the child’s father was attending to cattle at a nearby cowshed.
The child sustained injuries on her face and body and is currently undergoing treatment at Ganesh Das Government Maternal and Child Health Hospital. Other injured victims are also receiving medical care, though the full extent of their injuries has not been officially detailed.
Following the attacks, villagers launched a search for the stray dog and eventually tracked it down. To prevent further harm, the animal was killed by locals, bringing the immediate threat under control. However, the incident has raised fresh concerns about the growing stray dog menace and the associated risk of rabies in the region.
Authorities are expected to take note of the situation as residents call for stronger measures to manage stray animals and ensure public safety, especially for children who remain the most vulnerable in such incidents.