Girl dies after being bitten by a stray dog in New Delhi, Supreme Court takes suo motu cognizance:

News Topical, Digital Desk : The death of a six-year-old girl due to rabies after being bitten by a stray dog in Pooth Kalan in Rohini in the national capital has sparked outrage among residents. Locals on Monday claimed that the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) started catching dogs from the streets only after the Supreme Court took suo motu cognizance of the incident. Earlier in the day, a bench of the Supreme Court had highlighted that hundreds of cases of dog bites, often leading to rabies, are reported daily in Delhi and its outskirts, with children and the elderly being the most vulnerable.

The court took suo motu cognizance

The court said, "We take suo motu cognizance of this news." The court had ordered an inquiry into the death of the girl in Pooth Kalan as a matter of public interest. No immediate response was available from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The girl has been identified as Chhabi Sharma, fondly called 'Bittu' by her family. On June 30, when she was going to her aunt's house, a stray dog bit her. Her aunt Krishna Devi said that Chhabi came to their door crying, covered in blood. She was immediately taken to Dr. BR Ambedkar Hospital, where her anti-rabies vaccination started. After the first dose, the remaining three injections were to be given on July 3, 7 and 28. But after returning from school on July 21, Chhabi started vomiting and her condition deteriorated and she died on July 25.

What did Justice J Pardiwala say?

Justice J. Pardiwala termed the report titled 'City hounded by strays and kids pay price' as "extremely worrying". The report states that hundreds of dog bites are being reported, due to which rabies infection is spreading rapidly. This serious situation is affecting the young children and the elderly the most, who are dying of rabies. Justice Pardiwala described these deaths as "scary and disturbing".