Karnataka Announces ₹5 Lakh Compensation for Deaths in Stray Dog Attacks

Bengaluru- The Karnataka government has issued a new order outlining compensation for victims of stray dog attacks. As per the notification, those injured in such incidents will receive ₹5,000, while families of victims who lose their lives due to dog attacks or rabies will be granted ₹5 lakh.

Of the ₹5,000 compensation for injured individuals, ₹1,500 has been earmarked for medical treatment, and the remaining ₹3,500 will be paid directly to the victim. The government has also decided to form a committee under the Greater Bengaluru Authority to examine cases and ensure timely distribution of compensation.

Meanwhile, senior Congress leader P. Chidambaram has raised concerns over the rising number of dog-bite cases and rabies-related deaths in neighbouring Tamil Nadu. Citing official figures, he said the state has already recorded around 5.25 lakh dog-bite cases and 28 rabies deaths this year.

Chidambaram stressed that while the sentiments of dog lovers must be respected, the increasing number of attacks cannot be ignored. He said stray dogs need to be systematically segregated, neutered, and vaccinated. He also referred to Supreme Court guidelines that allow vaccinated dogs to return to their territories, except in designated public places.

He urged animal lovers to cooperate in implementing these measures to ensure the safety of pedestrians, particularly children, women, and the elderly.

His remarks follow a recent Supreme Court order directing all states and Union Territories to remove stray dogs from educational campuses, hospitals, sports complexes, bus stands, and railway stations in response to the surge in dog-bite incidents. The bench — comprising Justices Vikram Nath, Sandeep Mehta, and N.V. Anjaria also noted that dogs usually do not return to their territories after sterilization. The court further instructed that such public facilities must install proper fencing to keep stray dogs out.