A concerning surge has been recorded in dog bite incidents across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, including the provincial capital Peshawar, with official data showing a sharp 45 percent increase compared to last year.

According to figures released by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Department, as many as 87,364 people were attacked by stray dogs across the province till October this year. In 2024, the total number of victims stood at 60,223, marking a worrying year-on-year rise.

The highest number of cases were reported in Mardan, Swat, Lakki Marwat, Kohat, and Lower Dir districts. In Mardan alone, cases nearly doubled; rising from 6,528 last year to 13,328 this year. Lakki Marwat reported 7,274 cases, Swat 7,335, and Kohat 5,270.

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Peshawar also witnessed a troubling increase, with 4,558 people reportedly bitten by stray dogs so far this year. Although northern districts like Chitral, Kohistan, and Kolai-Palas recorded relatively fewer cases, an overall province-wide rise has been observed.

Residents have voiced growing fears over the unchecked population of stray dogs. Muhammad Naeem, a resident of Peshawar, said the situation has left citizens anxious, particularly in narrow city streets where schoolchildren and women face constant danger.

He added that hospitals are often short of anti-rabies vaccines, compounding the problem. “Government negligence and the incompetence of municipal bodies have worsened the situation. People are now afraid to step out of their homes, fearing sudden attacks by stray dogs,” Naeem lamented.

He further warned that the latest figures show the issue has escalated into a serious public health crisis. “Unless the government takes swift and effective measures, the situation may spiral further out of control in the coming months,” he said.