SRINAGAR, May 3: Authorities in Kashmir on Thursday started sterilisation drive of the canines after a increased  instances of dog attacks on humans.

“We have started the drive from here and will be sterilising around 10 dogs per day,” Dil Mohammad Makhdoomi, head of Animal Birth Control and Anti-rabies  project, told reporters.

The high canine population in Srinagar has resulted in a  sharp increase in dog attacks on humans. According to the statistics in SMHS hospital alone, more than 500 dog bites are reported every month in the city. This does not include data from district headquarters of the Valley.

The drive was started from Sher-e-Kashmir University of  Agricultural Sciences and Technology Kashmir and will be extended to other parts of the city and rest of the Valley
in a phased manner, he said.

The sterilisation drive is being carried out as per the  international standards, Makhdoomi said.

The state government had sent a team of veterinarians to Gujarat for specialised training, and the drive was started as soon as the team returned here.

Srinagar city, with a population of nearly 14 lakh, has a  canine population of nearly one lakh, which is above the accepted norms, he said.

“The existence of dogs in a society is also necessary. The accepted ratio is one dog per 36 humans but in Srinagar, we have one dog per 14 humans, which is very high,” Makhdoomi  said.