Para-Athlete, another Man die after rabid dog attack in Odisha’s Bolangir

August 10, 2025

Odisha: A tragic incident unfolded in Odisha’s Bolangir district when a rabid dog went on a violent spree on July 23, attacking six villagers including schoolchildren and national-level para-athlete Jogendra Chhatria, aged 33.

Chhatria, who represented India in para-athletics competitions, was among those bitten and rushed to the Bolangir district hospital, before being transferred to VIMSAR Medical College & Hospital in Burla for advanced care. 

Despite intensive treatment, Chhatria’s condition deteriorated. Tragically, he passed away late Saturday night. The second fatality was 48-year-old Hrushikesh Rana, who also succumbed to his injuries while under hospital care. 

The other four individuals injured in the attack including children recovered and were discharged home after receiving treatment. 

The sudden rampage by a rabid dog has thrown the tight-knit community of Chinchera village, located under Tushura police limits, into mourning and raised urgent concerns over public safety. 

The incident underscores a wider national concern. According to data shared by Union Minister S. P. Singh Baghel in a parliamentary briefing on July 22, India reported over 3.7 million dog bite cases in 2024, alongside 54 suspected human rabies deaths. 

In response, municipalities across the country are expected to ramp up implementation of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) Programme, as stipulated under the Animal Birth Control Rules, 2023 aimed at controlling stray dog populations and reducing rabies risk. 

This tragic outbreak serves as a sobering reminder of the deadly consequences of rabies a preventable yet under-addressed public health threat. It emphasizes the critical need for effective stray animal management, public awareness of rabies prevention, and timely medical interventions to safeguard vulnerable communities.

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