Chandigarh: The human-animal conflict, with both sides struggling for space, is becoming a serious concern for Chandigarh. There are few places where the problem manifests itself as clearly as in the PGI residential area. Monkeys and stray dogs roam around the area openly, leaving the frontline healthcare workforce vulnerable to attacks.In the past month alone, there have been several attacks on resident doctors, nurses, and support staff. This has made the premier medical campus a hazardous zone for its own employees. The threat was recently highlighted outside the Sanjeevani hostel gate, where 10 to 15 monkeys attacked a woman resident doctor.According to bystanders, the animals swarmed the doctor as she headed for her shift, leaving her with deep scratches on her arm. Doctors returning from late-night emergency shifts report having to arm themselves with wooden sticks to safely navigate the short walk from the hospital to their hostel rooms.The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD) has made formal complaints with the PGI administration, flagging the danger posed by packs of stray dogs stationed outside hostel entrances. “We have had several recent cases where dogs inside the hostel premises attacked our resident doctors and even a delivery person,” said Dr Vishnu Jhanji, president of the ARD.“Multiple written complaints have been submitted, but nothing concrete has materialised on the ground. Often, the dogs taken away are again left at the same place after a few days,“ he said. The fear of attacks discourages many from going on morning or evening walks. A faculty member said that they and their son had to undergo a course of anti-rabies injections after being bitten during a morning walk.This has also led to a standoff of sorts between the ARD and local employees who feed dogs.When questioned about the lack of campus safety infrastructure, Pankaj Rai, deputy director of administration at PGI, said, “We have requested the Municipal Corporation to intervene.”The Supreme Court ruled that stray dogs must be removed from areas such as schools, hospitals, railway stations, and bus depots and relocated to designated shelters.The Court mandated that, after being vaccinated and sterilised, these dogs must not be released back into their original localities.
