Woman mauled to death by stray dogs in Pune, ADR filed

CCTV footage of the incident. PIC/@PTI_News

In an incident that has triggered panic across the industrial town of Chakan, Khed in Pune, a 32-year-old woman was mauled to death by stray dogs near Ambethan Chowk along the Pune-Nashik Highway in the early hours of Monday. The attack, which occurred beneath a flyover on a service road, came to light after CCTV footage captured the terrifying sequence. The deceased has been identified as Shobha Vijay Waghmare, 32.

According to police, the incident occurred around 2 am when Waghmare was walking along the service road when a pack of six stray dogs surrounded her and began attacking. CCTV footage obtained from nearby shops shows the woman desperately trying to defend herself. But, her efforts proved futile. The attack reportedly lasted 15 minutes. Officials said she suffered massive blood loss. She collapsed on the spot and died before any help could arrive.

Body found in morning

The incident surfaced on Monday morning after local residents spotted the woman's body lying on the roadside and alerted police. The condition of the body initially sparked rumours of sexual assault and murder.

However, after examining CCTV footage, police confirmed that the death resulted from a stray dog attack and ruled out foul play.

Accidental Death Report

Police said that they have registered an accidental death report (ADR) into the incident. Police are also working to trace the victim's relatives.

‘We see 50-80 dog bite cases every month'

Sanjay Bothara, a senior journalist
This is not the first such case. Every month, around 50 to 80 dog bite cases are reported here. Just last month, nearly 19 people were injured in a single aggressive dog incident in Chakan.'

Public outrage

The incident has intensified concerns over the growing stray dog population in Chakan and adjoining localities. Residents say attacks on children, women, and senior citizens have become frequent. The authorities sterilised nearly 400 dogs and intensified efforts to capture strays.

Citizens' demands
>> Large-scale sterilisation drives
>> Relocation and rehabilitation of aggressive strays
>> Dedicated dog-control squads
>> Strict penalties for roadside waste dumping