Pathanamthitta, Kerala – A 65‑year‑old woman from Mannaramala in Pathanamthitta lost her life to rabies after a stray dog bite, highlighting the growing threat of dog bites in Kerala.
Krishnamma was bitten by a stray dog during the first week of September. She fell to the ground, sustaining a deep bite on her face. The victim was hospitalized at Kottayam Medical College Hospital and had received the anti‑rabies vaccine, but her condition deteriorated and she died.
The death comes as Kerala reports an alarming spike in stray dog attacks. In just the last five months, more than 165,000 people have been bitten by stray dogs, and 17 people have died from rabies.
Justice Alexander Thomas, chairperson of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, has ordered the government to create an immediate action plan to control rabies and manage the stray dog population. The commission’s directive follows a recommendation from Jacob John, former head of Virology at Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore, who urged the formation of a dedicated task force to coordinate rabies prevention across departments.
Justice Thomas also asked the government to update on the progress of the Justice Siri Jagan Commission, set up by the Supreme Court to determine compensation for dog‑bite victims. The Additional Chief Secretary of the Local Self‑Government Department must present a detailed report within a month.
This case marks the commission’s first suo‑motu action based on media coverage, urging swift measures to curb stray dog attacks and prevent more rabies deaths in Kerala.
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