Rabid dog spreads panic in Lodhi Gardens

NEW DELHI: The capital’s elite and influential usually keep their cool in the freakiest of situations, but Tuesday morning was different. Morning walkers at Lodhi Gardens, the favourite of the high and mighty in Delhi, were in for a not-so-healthy surprise on Tuesday morning, when a rabid dog went on the rampage, creating pandemonium amongst the walkers.
 
Senior citizens were running to safety.  The dog, frothing at its mouth, bit five walkers, striking fear in the minds of all those around. Dog lovers may not appreciate the end of this story, for the rabid dog met its end after being stoned to death by the frightened walkers.

Former IAS officer Bhure Lal who was present at the Lodhi Gardens when the episode occurred said, “The mad dog bit several people. Everyone was running for cover, it was absolute mayhem.”

A walker at the park said the dog menace was a regular issue at Lodhi Gardens. “There are no proper boundary walls to the area and stray dogs from the vicinity come here for shelter,” the walker said.

Lal spoke to the New Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC) commissioner and apprised him of the need to check the dog menace in the area. “I requested him to address this problem at the earliest. The NDMC commissioner has assured me that a team of dog catchers would be sent to Lodhi Gardens to address the problem immediately,” Lal said.

y_puneet@dnaindia.net