5 more bitten by stray dogs in Ernakulam; CM visits injured boy

Kochi: Five more persons fell victims to continuing attacks rabies-infected canines in Ernakulam district even as a three-year old boy, badly bitten by a stray dog, was visited by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy at a hospital here.

The state government said it would take up in the next Cabinet meeting the issue of stray dog menace, especially in Ernakulam district, where Presidents of Gram Panchayats had adopted a resolution in July proposing that the canines be "exported" to South Korea, China and the northeast where dog meat was in demand.

The resolution had come at a time when the State government was seeking a comprehensive plan, including Animal Birth Control programme (ABC) and culling of violent and rabies-infected dogs, to put an end to the menace.

Five persons, including an Anganwadi teacher and two children, were wounded in attacks by stray dogs in Muvattupuzha yesterday, a day after three-year old Devanand was severely injured in the canine bite in neighbouring Kothamangalam, police said.

The injured including four-year old Adikrishna, three-year old Meenakshi and teacher Sherly (48) have been hospitalised.

Meanwhile, Chandy accompanied by Health Minister V S Sivakumar visited Devanand at the private hospital last night.

The child was pulled down to the court yard from veranda of the house by the dog before biting severely on his eyes, lips and back.

He underwent a complicated surgery at the Angamaly Little Flower Hospital to fix his tear gland which was severely damaged in the attack. Doctors said he is out of danger.

Chandy said the government will bear the treatment expenses of Devanand.

During 2014-15, some 1.06 lakh people in Kerala were bitten by dogs, according to the state government.

Union Minister Maneka Gandhi has expressed concern over the way local bodies in Kerala handle stray dog menace.