Now Reading: Stray dog menace forces 4-day closure of 10 schools in Chamoli
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Stray dog menace forces 4-day closure of 10 schools in Chamoli
Ten schools in the Narayanbagar area of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district have been closed for students from August 20 to 23 due to the threat of stray and aggressive dogs. The decision follows…
Ten schools in the Narayanbagar area of Uttarakhand's Chamoli district have been closed for students from August 20 to 23 due to the threat of stray and aggressive dogs. The decision follows a letter from the Pramukh of Kshetra Panchayat Narayanbagar on August 19 highlighting the danger to students.
Chief Education Officer Akash Saraswat issued the order on directions from the District Magistrate. Students will be on holiday while teachers conduct classes online. The Block Education Officer and Deputy Education Officer have been directed to ensure compliance.
Several dog-bite incidents had been reported in Narayanbagar, prompting multi-department teams to identify and control aggressive stray dogs. Authorities will reassess the situation before schools reopen after August 23.
Indian Opinion Analysis
The closure highlights a growing public safety crisis in Uttarakhand's hill towns, where stray dog populations have surged due to unregulated breeding and inadequate animal birth control programs. Under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023, local bodies are responsible for sterilisation and vaccination, but implementation remains weak. Residents and panchayats are often caught between the risk of bites and legal protections for stray dogs under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Similar school closures occurred in Almora in 2022 and in Khandwa, Madhya Pradesh earlier this year. The key number to watch is the post-August 23 assessment: if more attacks are reported, the closure may be extended or permanent relocation of aggressive dogs considered.
Source: hindustantimes.com
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
