Thaindian News

Hyderabad, May 26 (IANS) Stray dogs continue to terrify people in coastal Andhra Pradesh, killing a child and injuring scores of others, while one more death was reported Thursday due to rabies.

A three-year-old child died and 20 others were injured in the attack by stray dogs in East Godavari district.

According to health officials, two stray dogs went berserk and attacked people in two different incidents at Kandrakota and Mallam villages of the coastal district.

The injured, including children, were shifted to Kakinada Government Hospital, where the condition of one person is stated to be critical.

The incident took place even as one more youth died of rabies. Doctors said Ram Babu had not taken anti-rabies vaccine after he was bitten by a stray dog few weeks ago and developed symptoms of rabies.

This is the eighth death due to rabies in the district this month.

While claiming that there is no shortage of anti-rabies vaccine, the health authorities have already ordered a probe into the deaths.

According to the health authorities, there are close to 67,000 stray dogs in the urban areas of East Godavari district alone, while their number is over 20 lakh across the state.

Earlier this month, the state human rights commission had taken suo moto note of the death of an eight-year-old girl due to shortage of vaccine at a government hospital.

State Health Secretary P.V. Ramesh has ordered all the government hospitals to ensure sufficient stock of anti-rabies vaccine.