Edwin Priyan, a 23-year-old MBA graduate from Dinnur in the Kuppati panchayat, Hosur tragically lost his life to rabies after failing to seek treatment for a dog bite.
According to reports, Edwin had been bitten by a dog several days earlier but chose not to inform his family or seek medical attention. On the afternoon of the incident, he suddenly began exhibiting unusual symptoms, including excessive salivation and loud, erratic behavior, alarming his family members.
Panicked, his relatives rushed him to the government primary health center in the Kakkadasam area. Despite receiving initial treatment, his condition worsened, prompting them to take him to a private hospital in the Thali region. There, doctors identified signs consistent with a dog bite, which led to his immediate transfer to the Thali Government Hospital, where he was administered a rabies vaccine.
Later that night, Edwin was taken to the Hosur Government Hospital for advanced care. Though doctors began treatment and he briefly calmed down and fell asleep, he passed away shortly afterward.
The incident has left his family and the local community in deep sorrow, highlighting the fatal consequences of neglecting timely medical intervention after a dog bite.
Stray Dog Crisis Escalates Across India, Tamil Nadu Among Worst Affected
The stray dog menace has reached alarming levels across India, directly impacting the daily lives of citizens especially women and children, who are the most vulnerable. Despite the growing threat, state authorities have done little to curb the unchecked rise in stray dog populations.
Taking serious note of the crisis, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) recently intervened after reviewing distressing data presented by the Union Minister of Fisheries, Animal Husbandry, and Dairying in the Lok Sabha. According to the report, over 21.95 lakh dog bite cases were reported in 2024, with 5 lakh of those affecting children, and 37 fatalities recorded as a result of these attacks.
The situation is especially dire in Tamil Nadu, which has witnessed a steep surge in such incidents. In just the first three months of 2025, the state reported 1.24 lakh (124,000) dog bite cases and 4 death cases due to rabies. In 2024, Tamil Nadu documented 4.8 lakh cases, and a five-year high of 4.8 lakh cases, along with 47 deaths due to rabies.
Despite the worsening crisis, local governance has been sluggish. The Greater Chennai Corporation, under the DMK administration, has faced criticism for its inaction even within their own allies. After advising the DMK run Greater Chennai Corporation to “learn from Indore” in handling urban issues, in March 2025, Congress MP Karti Chidambaram petitioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take urgent action on the rising health and safety risks posed by growing stray dog population, particularly the increasing rabies cases.
Recent Stray Dog Bite Cases
- On 11 April 2025, a 13-year-old boy named Vishwa from Chengalpet tragically passed away, three days after suffering a dog bite—despite having received two doses of the anti-rabies vaccine.
- On 16 March 2025, V. Ramesh, a 49-year-old man, succumbed to rabies at the Vellore Government Medical College and Hospital. According to reports, he had been scratched by a stray dog around 40 days earlier but failed to receive the anti-rabies vaccination.
- On 13 March 2025, Ram Chander, an Odisha native employed at a private company in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu, tragically took his own life by slitting his throat at a government hospital. This desperate act followed a recent dog bite that had led to a rabies infection.
- On 15 October 2024, a 57-year-old man from Erode district died of suspected rabies after being bitten by a dog a month ago and failing to get vaccinated.
- On 25 June 2024, an eight-year-old girl, Manishika Sri, from Achanputhur town in Tenkasi, was brutally mauled by a pack of six stray dogs while she was playing outside. The severe injuries she sustained led to her being admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the Government Headquarters Hospital.
- On 19 June 2024, a 6-year-old boy Saisaran in Santhome was bitten by a stray dog while attempting to feed it biscuits and was hospitalized at the Institute of Child Health and Hospital for Children in Egmore.
- on 1 June 2024, a 16-year-old boy, D Anbarasu, was bitten by a neighbor’s pet dog in KK Nagar while walking with a friend. He suffered leg injuries and received treatment at a nearby hospital.
- On 9 May 2024, in Thalambur, a Pomeranian allegedly bit a 10-month-old baby girl at a park, resulting in a minor injury. Meanwhile, in St Thomas Mount, a Husky dog belonging to a police constable bit a 10-year-old boy, prompting hospital treatment and a police complaint.
- On 7 May 2024, A five-year-old girl was severely injured by two pet Rottweiler dogs at a Chennai park, underwent surgery for head injuries. The owners were arrested and later released on bail. The incident led to charges of negligence and endangerment. The Corporation plans to handle the stray dog issue due to the owner’s negligence, as they lacked proper licensing and vaccinations for the dogs.
- In April 2024, Krithika, a pregnant dentist from Kolathur, was attacked by three unleashed dogs belonging to lawyer Venkatesh (50) while walking her own dog on night. Krithika’s husband sustained injuries trying to protect their pet, and both were hospitalized.
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