Times News NetworkPanchkula: A four‑month‑old baby narrowly escaped a potentially fatal stray dog attack after the child’s mother bravely shielded the infant with her body even as she was mauled by a pack of dogs near Sector 12 on Sunday morning.Sudha Devi, a domestic worker from Rally village, was on her way to work in Sector 12, carrying the baby in her arms, when the pack allegedly attacked her. Faced with danger, she held the child close while fending off the dogs.As she used herself to shield the child, she suffered multiple bites on her hands, legs and other parts. However, she ensured the child escaped unharmed.“With three to four dogs biting me, the baby fell on the ground and suffered minor scratches on the head. Luckily, passersby came to our rescue and chased the dogs away. The baby is safe. However, I have sustained about four injuries on my back and legs. Some of my flesh has been torn off,” Sudha told TOI.The injured woman was initially taken to the civil hospital in Sector 6, Panchkula, and was later referred to Govt Medical College and Hospital (GMCH), Sector 32, Chandigarh, for treatment. After receiving an injection, she was advised to wash her wounds with soap before being referred.“We want to question the effectiveness of the municipal corporation’s sterilisation, vaccination and stray dog management programmes. Additionally, it is shocking that despite spending a large amount of money on infrastructure, the civil hospital had to refer the patient to Chandigarh after injection. Her wounds should have been treated and bandaged there,” said Rakesh Aggarwal, member, Shivalik Vikas Manch.Stray dog attacks continue to be a major public safety concern in Panchkula.According to data from the civil hospital, 7,026 dog bite cases (both stray and pet) were reported in the district between Jan and May 2026.The district recorded 14,230 dog bite cases in 2025, the highest in the past three years, compared to 10,875 cases in 2024 and 10,161 in 2023.The large number of cases in the first five months of 2026 indicates the gravity of the issue.Dog bite cases:Jan–May 2026: 7,0262025 (full year): 14,2302024 (full year): 10,8752023 (full year): 10,161
