Daughter of former IAS officer dies of rabies after pet dog bite; case reignites public safety debate
The death of a senior education professional in Gandhinagar due to rabies has brought renewed focus on public safety concerns linked to the growing dog population, even as the Supreme Court continues to hear petitions on the feeding of stray dogs in public places.
The woman, the married daughter of a retired IAS officer who previously served as additional chief secretary to the Gujarat government, succumbed to rabies after a prolonged but unsuccessful treatment. She was associated with a reputed school in Gandhinagar and was well known in academic and civil service circles.
In a tragic turn, the infection was not caused by a stray dog but by a pet Beagle that was reportedly vaccinated. About four months before her death, she was bitten while playing with the dog, owned by a staff member of the school. Since she herself was a pet owner, the bite was considered routine and she did not take anti-rabies vaccination at the time.
The Beagle later showed symptoms consistent with rabies and died on October 17. Following this, the school issued an advisory asking parents and staff who may have come in contact with the dog to immediately take preventive vaccination. Rabies shots were also arranged on the campus.
By late December, the woman began developing symptoms and was admitted to a private hospital near Bhat Circle on December 30. Despite intensive medical care, she died on January 17 after around 15 days of treatment. Her last rites were performed at the Sector-30 crematorium in Gandhinagar under strict safety protocols, with officials confirming that all guidelines for handling infectious diseases were followed.
Health experts stress that rabies is almost always fatal once symptoms appear. While pet dogs are generally vaccinated, India continues to report rabies cases largely due to infected dogs, most of them strays.
The incident has intensified concerns over Gujarat’s rising stray dog population across cities and towns, highlighting risks related to dog bites, disease transmission and civic responsibility. With the apex court examining the contentious issue of feeding stray dogs in public spaces, the Gandhinagar case underscores the urgent need for effective animal control measures, public awareness and coordinated policy action.
In a similar incident last year, an Ahmedabad Police Control Room police inspector died of rabies after being bitten by his pet dog on September 21. He, too, did not take the rabies vaccine despite being advised by family members.