Gangadhar, who hails from the Indalwai mandal center of Nizamabad district, migrated to Hyderabad for employment four years ago. He is working as a watchman in a car service center at the Chaurasta. He lives in Erukula Basti, Bagh Amber with his wife Janapriya, six-year-old daughter, and four-year-old son Pradeep. As Sunday was a holiday, Gangadhar took both the children to the service center where he was working. He kept the daughter in the cabin at the parking lot and took the son inside the service center.
As Pradeep was playing there, he went out to work with another watchman. The boy stayed there for a while and then walked towards the cabin to look for his sister. Just then the stray dogs followed. The frightened boy ran here and there to escape from them, but they did not leave. One attack after another. Pradeep was seriously injured when two dogs pulled him from one side. After hearing the cries of his younger brother, he informed his father. Gangadhar drove them away and left the boy. The seriously injured son was shifted to a private hospital. The doctors confirmed that the boy had already died.
With this incident, GHMC faced severe criticism. Mayor Vijayalakshmi hastily held an emergency meeting at the GHMC office. A review was conducted with the authorities in the wake of the death of a four-year-old boy. She made some comments on this occasion. She said that there are 5.75 lakh stray dogs in Hyderabad and that as part of dog breeding, 20 dogs will be adopted in each ward.
But Mayor’s comments that the dogs must have attacked the child due to hunger are going viral. Vijayalakshmi said that an old woman in Amberpet provides meat to dogs, but she has not been seen for two days. She said that the taste of the meat would be offensive. The mayor clarified that this incident is very sad and that such things will not be repeated.
Minister KTR also expressed regret over the incident. But the opposition is targeting GHMC. Is regret enough? Many such things have happened in the past and they are questioning what the GHMC is actually doing. They are angry that they react only when there is an issue and take action at that time and then raise the issue.