Srinagar, Feb 05: Jammu and Kashmir has witnessed an alarming surge in dog bite incidents over the past two years, with as many as 2,06,460 cases reported during 2024 and 2025, according to official data presented in the Legislative Assembly by the Health and Medical Education Department.
According to the news agency—Kashmir News Observer (KNO), the figures were shared by the Health Minister Sakeena Itoo in response to a question raised by MLA Mubarak Gul, revealing a growing public health concern across both Jammu and Kashmir divisions.
The Jammu Division emerged as the worst-affected region, recording a staggering 1,26,844 dog bite cases over the two-year period, as 54,863 cases were reported in 2024 and 71,981 cases in 2025.
District-wise data shows Jammu district topping the list with 76,824 cases, followed by Kathua – 17,129, Udhampur – 8,179, Rajouri – 7,140, Samba – 5,332, Doda – 4,111, Reasi (2,752), Poonch (2,023), Ramban (1,772) and Kishtwar (1,582)
In the Kashmir Division, a total of 79,616 dog bite cases were recorded across 2024 and 2025, which includes 38,902 cases in 2024 and 40,714 cases in 2025.
Among the districts, Srinagar recorded the highest number with 35,174 cases, making it the most affected district in the Valley. It was followed by: Baramulla – 12,882, Anantnag – 10,818, Budgam – 5,523, Kulgam – 3,925, Kupwara – 3,725, Bandipora – 2,914, Pulwama – 2,197, Ganderbal – 1,695 and Shopian – 462
Additional data from medical colleges and SKIMS Kashmir alone accounted for 31,145 more dog bite cases, with Srinagar contributing over 25,000 of these.
As per data, 93,765 cases were reported in 2024, while 1,12,695 cases were reported in 2025 in Jammu and Kashmir Union Territory, bringing the total to 2,06,460 cases in just two years.
Itoo said that no formal data is available on the increase of the stray dog population in Jammu Municipal Corporation areas. The Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) conducted a scientific survey in 2023, estimating around 64,416 stray dogs within city limits.
To tackle the issue legally and humanely, SMC has been implementing an Animal Birth Control–Anti Rabies Vaccination (ABC-ARV) programme under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, and Supreme Court guidelines.
She said that the corporation is now setting up a third ABC-ARV centre at Ahal Chatterhama, which is expected to increase sterilisation and vaccination capacity tenfold. Existing centres operate with separate kennels for pre-operative care, post-operative recovery, quarantine, and community dogs, Itoo added.
The Health Minister said the government is also converting abandoned buildings and prefabricated sheds into functional sterilisation centres in districts like Kulgam and Shopian.
In Jammu Division, the Directorate of ULB has initiated a cluster-based tendering process for sterilisation and vaccination of stray dogs across municipal jurisdictions, aiming to replicate the ABC-ARV model, she added. (KNO)
