Srinagar, Mar 8: Residents of Press Colony in Srinagar are raising alarm over the increasing number of stray dogs roaming the locality, saying the situation has turned into a serious safety hazard for pedestrians, motorists, and particularly children and the elderly.

According to locals, packs of stray dogs frequently chase people walking through the streets, bark aggressively at passersby, and run after moving vehicles, creating panic and traffic disruptions in the area.
Officials from the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) acknowledge the challenge and say steps are being taken to control the stray dog population. The civic body recently restarted its sterilization programme at its Tengpora facility as part of efforts to curb breeding and gradually reduce the number of stray dogs in the city.
However, authorities admit that limited resources and harsh winter conditions have slowed down operations, delaying immediate relief for affected areas. Officials said that once weather conditions improve and resources are scaled up, sterilization and vaccination drives will be expanded to cover more localities, including Press Colony.
Residents, meanwhile, are urging the SMC to take urgent measures such as intensified sterilization drives, improved waste management, and regular monitoring to address the growing menace.
Until concrete measures are implemented, locals fear the stray dog problem will continue to pose a risk to public safety in the neighbourhood.