Rabid dog attack injures 16 people in Kabirwala

KABIRWALA: A rabid dog injured 16 people in different neighbourhoods of Kabirwala tehsil in Khanewal district on Sunday, according to officials.

Assistant Commissioner Kabirwala Rana Amir Liaqat said 11 of the injured were brought to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Kabirwala, where they were treated and given anti-rabies vaccine. He said the other five victims received vaccination at private healthcare facilities.

The attack was reported in Nawan Shehr West, Khaliqabad, Tariqabad, Tauheed Nagar and Hussainabad, where the dog bit residents including men, women and children. Those treated at the government hospital were identified as 52-year-old Pervez, six-year-old Talha, 70-year-old Allah Nawaz, 30-year-old Muhammad Arif, 12-year-old Abdul Rehman, 56-year-old Manzoor Hussain, 11-year-old Ameen, seven-year-old Abdul Wahab, 36-year-old Abid Hussain, 46-year-old Muhammad Hanif and 42-year-old Tahir Hussain.

Officials said all victims treated at the hospital were in stable condition. Rana Amir Liaqat said legal action was being initiated against the dog's owner, adding that police and Special Branch teams had been tasked with tracing the owner and fixing responsibility. Authorities have also instructed the relevant departments to keep watch on stray animals in the area to avoid further attacks.