Seema Saher, a resident of Sector 30, Noida, relives her ordeal of getting bitten by a stray dog in her own society.
Representational photo
I have been living in a rented flat in Sector 30, Noida, for the past two years. There is a pack of stray dogs that stay near Gate No 3 of the sector, which is quite close to my flat. Every time I enter the gate on my Scooty, the dogs chase me.
Yesterday, however, when I entered the gates while returning from office, the dogs did not run after me. Relieved, I parked my Scooty and started walking towards the society's Safal booth to get some milk.
I was aware that three of those dogs were walking behind me but I did not pay much heed, partly because they did not seem aggressive and partly because there was a guard walking a few paces behind me, with a stick in hand.
I was almost at the Safal booth when I felt a searing pain in my left knee.
One of the dogs had sunk its teeth into my knee. The other two were jumping on me.
I screamed in agony and the guard rushed to my aid and chased the dogs away.
I called up my friends who live in the sector and they took me to Chikitsa NMC Superspeciality Hospital in Sector 30.
The doctor washed my wounds and gave me two injections. He told me I had to come and take four more injections at a later date.
I have been trying to reach my RWA secretary and have not been able to, so far. I have lodged my complaint on Noida Authority's grievance-redressal portal.
Frankly, I feel helpless.
There have been several incidents of these stray dogs attacking people in our neighbourhood. A few days ago a 2-year-old girl was mauled by them while I stood there helpless, watching from my balcony. There was this biker who fell down trying to flee from the chasing dogs. A milkman was bitten couple of months back.
What are we supposed to do? We are not allowed to relocate the strays. Are we just supposed to continue living in fear?
(As told to Tathagata Sen)
