Stray dogs at Kozhikode railway station leave passengers wary

The presence of stray dogs has again raised concerns over passenger safety at Kozhikode railway station, with local authorities yet to respond effectively to the issue. Passengers allege that aggressive dogs are now present on all four platforms, making the station unsafe, especially for children and the elderly.

“We are very much concerned about the safety of children here, as some dogs are prone to target those who run or play in the area. As most of these dogs move in packs, nobody will be able to help in case of an attack,” says P.C. Shaju, a frequent traveller between Kozhikode and Kannur. He says at least the aggressive dogs should be identified and removed from the station premises.

Fights between aggressive dogs are another concern raised by several passengers. According to them, the problem has persisted for years despite repeated complaints from passengers. They allege that there have even been incidents of foreign tourists being attacked by stray dogs at Kozhikode railway station.

“Passengers’ bags and other luggage are also targeted by some dogs when they move away from the spot to buy snacks or tea. There are even frequent incidents of dogs urinating on such items,” says Abhijith Karatt, a sales executive and frequent traveller from the city. The railway authorities can easily track such incidents if they review the CCTV footage, he adds.

There are also complaints about some passengers and local labourers who feed the dogs or dump food waste in a manner that attracts them. According to some regular passengers, the Government Railway Police or the Railway Protection Force do not even discourage such practices when they witness them during inspections.

According to railway sources, the Chief Health Officer of the Railways has frequently written to the Kozhikode Corporation authorities seeking action on the issue, citing safety concerns. The Kerala State Human Rights Commission has also intervened in the matter on several occasions. However, there is no regular monitoring beyond temporary measures, they point out.

Meanwhile, Corporation officials say the Animal Birth Control programme has helped control the problem to a great extent at Kozhikode railway station. They add that the Railways should also take stronger measures to discourage people from dumping food waste indiscriminately along the railway tracks or regularly feeding stray dogs in the area.