Ludhiana, May 23 -- Dog bite cases continue to rise sharply in Ludhiana, with the civil hospital recording 5,172 cases between January and April this year - nearly 40% of the total cases reported in 2025 - even as the state government weighs measures to tackle the growing stray dog menace.

According to data from the civil hospital, 1,402 dog bite cases were reported in January this year, followed by 1,261 in February, 1,191 in March and 1,318 in April. During the same period last year, the hospital had recorded 4,801 cases. In 2025, the hospital reported a total of 13,153 dog bite cases.

Officials and animal welfare groups attributed the steady rise in cases to the increasing stray dog population and the slow pace of sterilisation drive...