Passengers arriving at railway stations across the State are increasingly at risk from stray dogs. With the Supreme Court placing responsibility on civic bodies, particularly municipal authorities, railway officials have been reaching out to the State government and local bodies for assistance in tackling the problem.
However, there appears to be little response, even as incidents of passengers and railway staff being bitten by stray dogs continue to rise. Describing the situation as grave, Suresh Gopi, MP, said the issue must be addressed at any cost, and raised the matter with Palakkad Railway Divisional Manager Madhukar Roat.
Mr. Gopi has written to the vice-chancellor of Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, requesting 25 cents of land to rehabilitate stray dogs. However, the request has not yet been approved.
“We have been consistently seeking the support of the municipal authorities, and they have been responding positively. However, the problem persists, as the dogs return after being captured and sterilised,” said Mr. Roat.
A woman was bitten by a dog at Palakkad Town railway station a few weeks ago, and similar incidents have been reported from several parts of the State. “The fear is growing. A few dogs confronted me at Tirur railway station when I went to board a train on Friday (January 23). When I returned at night, I saw them loitering on the platform again,” said Sirajudheen Ellathodi, a member of the Zonal Railway Users Consultative Committee (ZRUCC).
Mr. Ellathodi has written to senior railway officials seeking a solution to the stray dog menace. “We will approach higher authorities in the State for immediate intervention. If the issue remains unaddressed, we will have no option but to seek legal remedy,” he said.
The Railways have appointed health inspectors as nodal officers to tackle the stray dog problem at all major stations, including Palakkad, Shoranur, Tirur, and Kozhikode. “Recently, we wrote twice to the Corporation authorities seeking their intervention, but we have yet to receive any response,” said Sindhu K.G., chief health inspector and nodal officer at Kozhikode.
Railway officials have started warning passengers against feeding stray dogs. “Feeding the dogs is the biggest mistake passengers make. We are raising awareness to prevent it,” said Ms. Sindhu. “Frequent announcements are being made over the PA system.”
In addition, the Railways have begun placing dustbins on elevated stands to keep them out of reach of stray dogs. “We are also covering garbage collection trolleys, both to maintain hygiene and to prevent access by stray dogs,” said Ms. Sindhu.
According to Mr. Roat, stations located near markets remain particularly vulnerable to stray dogs, despite efforts to control waste disposal on platforms and tracks.
Published – January 24, 2026 09:36 pm IST
