Free-roaming strays pose added risk to two-wheeler riders and pedestrians

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Last week, a pack of strays ambushed 67-year-old Chandran outside his house at Vettamukku, grievously injuring his face and eye. Videos of street dogs cornering children on their way to school, straying into carriageways, chasing two-wheeler riders and sending them off balance have flooded social media, prompting public indignation over the perceived failure of civic authorities to control the menace.

According to the State Crime Records Bureau, which updates its statistics online periodically, two-wheelers account for over 53 per cent of the road accidents, including fatalities, reported in Thiruvananthapuram district.

Assistant Commissioner of Traffic (South), Suresh Kumar, said roaming packs of dogs pose an additional risk to a large section of families who rely on two-wheelers for their daily commute. He noted that free-roaming dogs often chase two-wheeler riders, especially during the dark hours, seriously endangering their safety and that of other road users. “The accident risk doubles when a panicked driver accelerates to outpace the chasing dogs. Ideally, the rider should not panic, though it is not always easy, and should avoid losing control of the vehicle”, he said.

Mr. Kumar identified improper garbage disposal and also the practice of feeding strays on road sides as the main reasons for the growing dog menace. “The community can help the municipal authorities mitigate the problem incrementally by ensuring proper disposal of kitchen waste, avoiding littering, and adopting stray puppies instead of purchasing pricey expensive, high-pedigree breeds”, he says.

Early-morning walkers who frequent the Kanakakunnu Palace and the Museum grounds have posted pictures on social media showing individuals littering the locality with slaughter waste to anonymously feed stray dogs. Rahul Raveendran, a horticulturalist, said strays have often chased early morning joggers and walkers who visit the locality.

M.R. Gopan, chairperson of the Thiruvananthapuram Municipal Corporation’s