Dog Bite Incidents Surge in Maharashtra: Mumbai Alone Records Over 1.28 Lakh Cases in 2024
Mumbai, 13th December 2025: The scale of stray dog attacks in Maharashtra came under sharp focus in the state legislature after official data revealed that Mumbai alone recorded more than 1.28 lakh dog bite cases in 2024, underscoring a growing public safety challenge in urban centres.
The data was placed before the Maharashtra Legislative Council by Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde in a written response to queries raised by several members, including Sunil Shinde, Vasant Khandelwal and Sandip Joshi.
Urban Centres See Alarming Numbers
According to the figures shared, Mumbai accounted for 1,28,252 dog bite cases last year, while Nagpur Municipal Corporation limits reported 9,427 incidents during the same period. The numbers, legislators noted, reflect the increasing interaction between free-roaming dogs and dense human populations.
Shinde informed the House that a Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) survey conducted through Humane Society International, following guidelines of the Animal Welfare Board of India, indicates a slight reduction in the city’s stray dog population — from 95,172 in 2014 to 90,757 in 2024 — even as bite incidents remain high.
Statewide Trend Raises Concern
The Mumbai and Nagpur data forms part of a wider statewide pattern. Over the past six years, Maharashtra has recorded more than 30 lakh dog bite cases, averaging 1,369 incidents every day.
Earlier disclosures in the Legislative Assembly revealed that 30 rabies-related deaths were reported between 2021 and 2023, with both urban and rural areas witnessing a rise in dog bite incidents.
Government Steps to Tackle the Issue
In response, the state government and local civic bodies have intensified animal birth control, sterilisation and vaccination drives, along with rabies prevention programmes, to manage the stray dog population.
The Deputy Chief Minister also said that an independent online grievance redressal system has been introduced to enable citizens to report aggressive stray dogs. Efforts are underway to identify suitable land for dedicated shelters to house rabid or violent animals.
Balancing Animal Welfare and Citizen Safety
Members of the council pressed for stronger implementation of control measures, pointing to the heightened risk faced by pedestrians, children and senior citizens. As urbanisation accelerates, the challenge of balancing public safety with animal welfare norms continues to dominate civic and political discussions across Maharashtra.
