Dog Bite Row: GHMC Puts Vets on Notice

Hyderabad: Officials of the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) veterinary wing will be held responsible in case of dog-bite incidents in hospitals, schools or public places, Commissioner R.V. Karnan warned on Saturday.

The GHMC will launch a special sanitation drive across the city from December 29. Zonal commissioners (ZCs) and deputy commissioners (DCs) have been instructed to ensure effective monitoring of sanitation activities so the campaign yields tangible results. Special attention will be paid to long-pending waste removal and garbage-vulnerable points.

Karnan carried out field inspections in Secunderabad and Malkajgiri zones, accompanied by Secunderabad zonal commissioner Ravi Kiran and Malkajgiri zonal commissioner Sanchit Gangwar, to review ongoing sanitation works at the ground level.

As part of the inspection, sanitation and pedestrian infrastructure in and around Gandhi Hospital was reviewed, with instructions issued to repair footpaths. It was observed that stray dogs were entering hospital campuses from surrounding areas, and officials were directed to capture them and shift them to animal care centres.

The commissioner further directed deputy director-level veterinary officers to personally monitor hospitals, schools and crowded public places daily within their jurisdictions and take immediate steps to ensure these areas remain free of stray dogs.