7-year-old critical after stray dog attack in Meerpet

Hyderabad: A seven-year-old boy was critically injured after being attacked by a pack of stray dogs in Hastinapuram, Meerpet, on Monday night.

Police said that the boy, a native of Sircilla, had come to visit his aunt’s house in Hastinapuram. He had been playing cricket with friends outside the house.

According to Meerpet sub-inspector G Srinivas Reddy, the attack occurred as the boy was entering the apartment building after the game had ended and the other children had left. “He was in the cellar when a pack of eight dogs followed him in and attacked him. Nobody was around to rescue him for some time, until some passers-by saw the attack and shooed the dogs away. We could not recover any CCTV footage from the scene,” the sub-inspector added.

The boy sustained multiple injuries and was taken to a private hospital in LB Nagar. He is currently on ventilator support.

Doctors said the child was brought to the hospital on Monday night in an unconscious state. Medical examinations revealed deep wounds on the scalp, hands, thighs, back and abdomen, with some injuries extending up to the bone. Excessive blood loss has further worsened his condition.

Hospital authorities said emergency treatment began immediately after admission.

“The medical team administered intravenous fluids, anti-rabies vaccines, tetanus injections and specialised medication to prevent the spread of the rabies virus. Additional injections were also administered around the wound areas as part of the treatment,” hospital officials said.

A team comprising specialists from paediatrics, general surgery and plastic surgery is jointly treating the child. Doctors are also conducting daily procedures to remove damaged tissue and prevent infection.

Medical experts said the next few days will be crucial for the boy’s recovery. Although doctors have not confirmed a rabies infection, they warned that symptoms could develop within the next 15 days, potentially leading to brain swelling and further complications.

Doctors added that the child remains under close observation and has not yet fully recovered from shock. A clearer assessment of his condition is expected within the next 48 hours.