Jaipur, June 4 -- Over 1.842 million dog bite cases were reported in Rajasthan under the National Rabies Control Programme (NRCP) in the last five years, government data showed. The district-wise classification shows a significant jump- 88,259 cases reported in 2021-22 to 5,93,999 cases reported in 2025-26. The previous three years recorded over 400,000 cases per year, and experts warned that the numbers indicated that the problem is not confined to urban centres. Alwar emerged as the worst-affected district in 2025-26 with 47,910 cases, followed by Sri Ganganagar (38,331), Bikaner (35,796), Deeg (34,087), Jaipur (33,595) and Dholpur (32,688). The total figure logged in five years- 18,42,617 cases- can be broken up to indicate that an average of over 1,000 people reported being bitten by a dog every day. Experts said the numbers raised questions over the effectiveness of sterilisation drives, stray dog population control and anti-rabies vaccination programmes. They stressed the need for better coordination between local bodies, animal husbandry authorities and the health department. Additional health director Dr Narottam Sharma said that dog bite cases typically peaked between January and June each year. Government health centres provided anti-rabies vaccines and treatment facilities free of cost, he added. "Treatment is provided according to the severity of the wound. In the event of a dog bite, the wound should be washed immediately with soap and water, an antiseptic should be applied, and medical attention should be sought without delay," Sharma said, stressing that timely treatment was crucial. A senior official with the Jaipur Municipal Corporation (JMC) said that summer months generally logged spikes in dog bite cases. "On average, around 1,000 dogs are sterilised every month under the corporation's animal birth control programme," the official said....