Mohali, May 17 -- Mohali has seen an alarming rise in dog bites with an average of 81 cases being reported daily, official data shows. Morning walkers, cyclists, delivery persons and two-wheeler riders - no one seems to be safe. Data shared by the Phase-6 civil hospital, which is the designated authority for keeping a count of dog-bite cases in the district, reveals that in just four months (January to April 2026), Mohali logged 9,710 dog bite cases (see box). Residents say the problem has become so grave that they now fear venturing out of their homes. Fazal Masih, 85, a resident of Manohar Singh Palm Residency in New Chandigarh, who was attacked by a stray dog on Thursday while walking to a nearby shop to buy milk, says that the same dog had bitten several others in the locality but no action was taken. "People in the area, especially senior citizens, are scared to step out even for errands," he added. Bhavdeep Singh, a 48-year-old businessman from Phase 7, whose 17-year-old son was bitten by a stray dog last week, says, "In our area alone, nearly 60 dog bite cases have been reported in recent months. Since it is an open locality and not a gated one, stray dogs move around freely. We have raised the issue with the municipal corporation multiple times, but no action has followed," he said. A commuter from Zirakpur said morning walkers and two-wheeler riders are frequently chased, adding that delivery drivers are among the worst affected, especially during night hours, as stray dogs often attack unfamiliar riders entering residential areas. KK Saini, president of Confederation of Greater Mohali Residents Welfare Association, the apex body of 65 RWAs in the district, said, "We have repeatedly flagged this issue through four representations in the past nine months, seeking sterilisation, vaccination, shelters and a response mechanism, but the ground situation remains unchanged." Dr Sanjeev Kamboj, medical officer of health (MOH), Mohali MC, said that on an average, 250 dogs are sterilised every month at the Animal Birth Control Centre in Phase 1 Industrial Area. "The facility covers stray dogs within MC limits," he said. MC commissioner Sundeep Singh Garha remained unavailable for comments despite multiple attempts to reach him. Yogita Kumari, director of Tabassum, A Home of Hope Foundation, village Maujpur, Landran, stressed the need for a dedicated rabies task force and a helpline number for the entire district to assist residents in emergencies involving suspected rabid dogs. Citing a case in Sector 109, she said a feeder identified a suspected rabid dog before it could bite dogs or humans, but no government official provided immediate assistance. Kumari also pointed out discrepancies in dog bite data, saying official figures often do not distinguish between bites by pets and stray dogs, and at times may even include bites by other animals such as cats or monkeys under the same category....