Pune, 9th April 2026: A suspected rabid dog attacked five people in the DP Road area near Mhatre Bridge on Tuesday, creating panic among residents. The incident raised serious concerns about a possible rabies infection in the locality.
The injured individuals were rushed to Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, where doctors noticed that multiple patients had been bitten in the same area.
Acting promptly, emergency department head Dr. Jyotsna Bhosale informed the Alankar Police Station, which then coordinated with the Pune Municipal Corporation’s veterinary department to capture the dog.
A special team launched a search operation and eventually located the dog near the Mahalaxmi Lawns area. Although the animal was successfully captured, it died while being transported, making it impossible to confirm whether it was infected with rabies.
Dr. Sarika Funde, head of the civic veterinary department, said, “The dog was captured but died during transportation. Since no sample could be collected, we cannot confirm if it was rabid. The carcass has been disposed of.”
All five victims were immediately administered anti-rabies vaccines at the hospital. Doctors emphasized that timely vaccination can prevent the disease, but once symptoms appear, rabies can be fatal, making early treatment critical.