Jammu, February 5, 2026 :The Jammu and Kashmir Government on Thursday informed the Legislative Assembly that more than two lakh dog bite cases were reported across the Union Territory during 2024 and 2025, with Jammu district recording the highest number of incidents.
The information was shared by Minister for Health and Medical Education Sakina Itoo in a written reply to a question raised by National Conference MLA Mubarak Gul. According to the data, a total of 2,06,460 dog bite cases were reported during the two-year period, including 93,765 cases in 2024 and 1,12,695 cases in 2025.
In the Jammu division, 1,26,844 cases were recorded during 2024–25, with 54,863 cases in 2024 and 71,981 cases in 2025. The Jammu district alone accounted for 76,824 cases, the highest in the Union Territory. It was followed by Kathua (17,129 cases) and Udhampur (8,179 cases).
Other districts in the Jammu division reported 7,140 cases in Rajouri, 5,332 in Samba, 4,111 in Doda, 2,752 in Reasi, 2,023 in Poonch, 1,772 in Ramban, and 1,582 in Kishtwar, the minister said.
In the Kashmir division, 79,616 dog bite cases were reported during the same period, including 38,902 cases in 2024 and 40,714 cases in 2025. Srinagar district recorded the highest number with 35,174 cases, followed by Baramulla (12,882) and Anantnag (10,818).
Other districts in Kashmir reported 5,523 cases in Budgam, 3,925 in Kulgam, 3,725 in Kupwara, 2,914 in Bandipora, 2,197 in Pulwama, 1,695 in Ganderbal, and 462 cases in Shopian, she added.
The minister said the figures were compiled from data received from the Directorate of Health Services (DHS), Government Medical Colleges, and SKIMS. She added that the government is taking steps to strengthen preventive measures and treatment facilities to address the growing number of dog bite incidents across the Union Territory.
On the issue of stray dog population, Sakina Itoo said there is no report indicating an increase in stray dogs within the limits of the Jammu Municipal Corporation (JMC). However, she noted that the Srinagar Municipal Corporation (SMC) conducted a scientific survey in 2023, estimating around 64,416 stray dogs within its jurisdiction.
To manage the stray dog population humanely, the minister said the SMC is implementing an outsourced Animal Birth Control and Anti-Rabies Vaccination (ABC-ARV) programme. She acknowledged that existing efforts are challenged by the high fertility rate among dogs, prompting the corporation to enhance capacity by establishing a third ABC-ARV centre at Ahal Chatterhama.
“The new facility is expected to increase sterilisation and immunisation capacity by nearly ten-fold,” she said, adding that designated centres with separate kennels for pre-operative, post-operative, community, and quarantine purposes are already operational.
The minister further said that the SMC is working in compliance with all legal frameworks and recent directives of the Supreme Court of India, which mandate sterilisation, vaccination, and release back to the original habitat as the only legally permitted method to address stray dog overpopulation.
