Prayagraj: In a significant move to tackle the growing menace of stray dogs in urban areas, the Uttar Pradesh government is preparing a dedicated plan for large-scale capture and management of street dogs.
The administration has also assured that municipal bodies will receive financial support to build new shelter homes for accommodating captured animals.
During an online review meeting held on Monday in connection with the Supreme Court’s directives, Principal Secretary (Urban Development) P. Guru Prasad interacted with municipal commissioners across the state.
Officials raised a critical concern — although stray dogs must be removed from public places for public safety, cities currently lack adequate shelter capacities to house them.
Responding to this, the Principal Secretary assured that the government will soon frame a structured plan and allocate funds for constructing new shelter homes.
Dr. Vijay Amritraj, Livestock Officer of the Municipal Corporation, stated that Prayagraj currently has only one functional shelter home, making it difficult to take in thousands of stray dogs at once.
He added that existing practices—primarily sterilization drives—will continue until new guidelines and budget support are issued. Once funds are allotted, additional shelters will be constructed.
Rising Threat on Streets and Residential Areas
Stray dogs have become a persistent threat not only in busy markets and public spaces in Prayagraj, but also across city streets and residential neighbourhoods.
The problem intensifies during late evening and night hours, when packs of dogs chase two-wheelers and cars, often leading to accidents and severe injuries.
Residents have repeatedly raised concerns about safety, especially for children, senior citizens, and delivery workers who move through darker or less crowded lanes after sunset.
With rising public fear and regular incidents of dog-bite cases, the government’s move is expected to bring some relief.
However, until new infrastructure and a comprehensive policy are implemented, authorities will continue the ongoing sterilization and control measures.
Key Data
The city’s stray-dog population is estimated at 1.13 lakh.
Over the past two years, about 1,98,964 dog-bite incidents were reported in Prayagraj (58,948 in 2023; 1,40,016 in 2024).
Out of those, in 2024 there were ~33,258 scratch-cases, ~97,893 bleeding-injuries, and ~8,865 serious bite injuries.
At the state level, in UP, between 2023-2,5, about 2,84,641 stray dogs were sterilised & vaccinated.
Expert / Policy View
The state has issued new rules: a stray dog that bites a human without provocation will be kept under observation for 10 days; if it bites again, it faces life-long confinement in a shelter.
Experts emphasise the need to balance public safety and animal welfare: large stray-dog numbers, rising bite cases, and rabies risks versus humane treatment and legal obligations.
Safety Tips for Residents
Avoid riding two-wheelers or walking in poorly lit lanes at night where stray dogs may roam; be extra cautious around packs or aggressive animals.
If you encounter a stray dog chasing a vehicle: reduce speed if safe, avoid sudden swerving; don’t provoke, and try to move away calmly.
Do not feed or approach unfamiliar dogs in public spaces at night — keep a safe distance.
Ensure children and senior citizens know to avoid confrontation: walk in groups, keep lights on, and use main roads.
Report aggressive stray dogs or bite cases to the local municipal animal welfare/health department immediately, including details (location, time, description).
Great — here’s a concise, well-sourced fact-box comparing Prayagraj, Lucknow, and Varanasi, with a focus on stray-dog numbers, bite/accident data, sterilisation progress, and recent policy steps (including night-time/road-accident incidents involving dogs).
Brief Fact-Box — Stray-dog situation (Prayagraj | Lucknow | Varanasi)
Estimated stray population
- Prayagraj: ~1.1–1.13 lakh street dogs.
- Lucknow: Municipal estimates/programme scope frequently cited at ~1.25 lakh dogs targeted for micro-chipping / registry.
- Varanasi: official counts lower; reporting highlights sharp localised increases in aggressive animals and notes low sterilisation coverage in recent years.
Dog-bite & injury trends (recent years)
- Prayagraj: reported a steep rise — nearly 2 lakh dog-bite cases over two years (e.g., 58,948 in 2023 and 1,40,016 in 2024 in city reporting).
- Lucknow / UP (state context): UP reports large sterilisation drives after huge state-level bite numbers; national/regional reports show dog-bite cases rising sharply in recent years.
- Varanasi: local press reports increasing attacks and concern that stalled sterilisation drives have led to rising bite/attack incidents.
Night-time / road-accident incidents caused by dogs
- Prayagraj: multiple documented cases where motorcyclists crashed trying to avoid packs of dogs at night — serious injuries reported (examples reported Oct 2024 and Oct 2025). These incidents illustrate the heightened risk during low-light hours when dogs chase two-wheelers or appear suddenly on roads.
- Lucknow / Varanasi: similar anecdotal reports and complaints by residents of dog-related road hazards at night; municipal programmes are being pitched partly to reduce such accidents.
Sterilisation/vaccination progress & recovery actions
- Prayagraj: drives underway but only a fraction of the estimated population sterilised/vaccinated so far; municipal shelters being expanded and pet-licensing introduced.
- Lucknow / UP: between 2023–25 UP sterilised & vaccinated ~2,84,641 strays (state figure). Lucknow has been running active ABC (anti-breeding/ vaccination) campaigns, and has launched a plan to implant microchips for digital tracking.
- Varanasi: reporting says sterilisation pace is inadequate — relatively few dogs sterilised over the past eight years per local coverage — leaving vulnerable pockets.
Policy & enforcement steps (recent)
UP government has issued stricter rules: dogs that bite without provocation are kept 10 days under observation, and those that bite twice may face lifelong confinement; courts and the state have pushed for more shelters (Supreme Court direction noted in regional reporting). Municipalities are preparing budgets, new shelters, and licensing drives.
Prayagraj, Lucknow, and Varanasi all face rising public-safety risks from large stray-dog populations — night-time road hazards (dogs chasing or darting in front of two-wheelers) are a real and recurring cause of accidents — while municipal sterilisation, vaccination, and sheltering programmes are scaling up but remain insufficient to eliminate immediate risks.
Tips.