Srinagar: Residents of Sector-3, Gulberg Colony in Hyderpora have raised serious concerns over the growing menace of stray dogs in the locality, alleging that large packs roam the area every night, making it unsafe for people to step out after dusk.
According to residents, the presence of stray dogs has created an atmosphere of fear, with children, women and elderly people finding it difficult to enter or leave their homes. They said the problem is particularly acute during Fajr and Isha prayers, when worshippers walking to the nearby mosque often encounter aggressive packs stationed outside residential gates and along narrow lanes.
Locals claim many residents have started carrying sticks and torches while venturing out at night, but say these measures are often ineffective in warding off the animals. They allege the dogs have effectively taken over several streets in the neighbourhood, forcing people to alter their daily routines.
Expressing concern over public safety, residents questioned why authorities had not taken action despite the recurring problem. They warned that intervention should not come only after someone suffers a serious dog attack.
The residents have appealed to the Divisional Commissioner, Kashmir, and the Commissioner of the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) to treat the issue as a matter of urgency. They have sought immediate measures, including the capture of stray dogs, sterilisation, vaccination, relocation where necessary, and a sustained population-control programme.
