75-year-old woman bitten by stray dog inside Andheri East housing society

A 75yearold former schoolteacher was bitten by one of three dogs after they surrounded her inside Vastu Shilp Cooperative Housing Society on Rajmata Jijabai Road Pump House Andheri East on Sunday eveningSuvarna Kulkarni was carrying two bags after buying milk and a battery cell when one of the dogs suddenly approached and bit her left ankle CCTV footage shows a security guard rushing towards the animals and repeatedly driving them awayKulkarni was taken to Holy Spirit Hospital Andheri East where the injury was recorded as a Category III dog bite according to her familylsquoI was screaming for helprsquoldquoSuddenly one of them started barking and came towards me and two more joined Before I knew what was happening one of them bit my ankle There was a lot of bleeding and I was terrified I was screaming for help but I felt helpless and didnrsquot know what to dordquo Kulkarni said She said she received 12 injections around the wound and is still unable to put her leg properly on the floorThe deep bite wound on Suvarna Kulkarnirsquos ankle PicsBy Special ArrangementldquoThe dogs are still in the society compound I only hope the authorities and the society take the necessary precautions so that what happened to me does not happen to someone elserdquo she said Residents said the dogs were sitting in the society compound before one approached Kulkarni They said the incident happened within secondsResidents say they had warned authoritiesResidents claim this was not the first time concerns about dogs in the complex had been raised They said complaints about dogs allegedly chasing and attempting to bite people had been made to Meghwadi police station and BMC veterinary authoritiesSuvarna Kulkarni after receiving initial treatment following the dog biteldquoWe have been reporting these incidents to the police and following up on the matter Unfortunately the dog menace continues We have also submitted a written complaint regarding people who are harbouring these dogs Some residents are taking precautions by keeping the gates closed and being careful while moving around the premises There are around five societies in the Vastu Shilp complex and the issue affects the entire areardquo said Vinod Balodi chairman Vastu Shilp Society The allegation that residents are harbouring the dogs could not be independently established from the information availableNot the first attackThe latest incident follows a dogbite case at the same complex on March 5 2025 when security guard Ramchandra Bhiva Shinde 55 was allegedly bitten by two dogs on his left leg while on duty An FIR was registered at Meghwadi police station The matter later reached the Maharashtra State Human Rights CommissionPolice subsequently reported that CCTV footage had been seized Residents said a BMC KEast Ward team captured four stray dogs from the area on March 10 2025That raises a question residents now want answered What happened to those dogs and were they among the animals involved in Sundays incidentlsquoPreventive action is neededrsquoKulkarnirsquos son Shrivatsa who lives separately said the incident showed the vulnerability of elderly residents ldquoWhen three dogs approach an elderly person carrying bags there is very little time to react The fact that residents had already raised concerns makes this incident particularly worrying We need preventive action so that complaints are addressed before someone gets injuredrdquo he saidWhat officials sayVanita Kokate recently appointed assistant commissioner K East WardldquoI havenrsquot received any complaint so far but I will look into the matter and take appropriate actionrdquoThe statement contrasts with residentsrsquo claim that complaints had already been made to BMC veterinary authorities It was not immediately clear which civic office or official had received those earlier complaintsKiran Shriram Shaligram senior police inspector Meghwadi police station confirmed that residents had approached the police on Sunday eveningldquoThe residents informed us that they would be approaching the local BMC ward office as it is a straydog issue Once they approach us with the letter we will take appropriate legal action as per the lawrdquo he saidBMC veterinary helplinesFor stray dogs cats and cattlerelated complaintsMain control office mdash Deonar Entire BMC area7564976649Mahalakshmi ChowkieColaba to Sion till Mahim9987798436Bandra ChowkieBandra to Andheri9082116715Malad ChowkieAndheri to Dhaisar9076202207Mulund ChowkieChembur to Mankhurd Kurla to Mulund8692068993Email vhdmcgmgovin