Overview
- The attack happened on Friday when around five to six stray dogs surrounded and mauled a nine-year-old boy, identified as Arish Kumar, in Mahanala village in Ganjam district.
- Family members and nearby residents rescued the child and took him first to Digapahandi hospital for emergency care before doctors referred him to MKCG Medical College in Berhampur.
- MKCG doctors reportedly arranged a further referral to a hospital in Bhubaneswar for more advanced treatment because the boy suffered severe scalp and head wounds.
- Villagers said the incident has stoked fear across the community, with parents limiting children's outdoor play and residents demanding that local authorities implement measures to control the growing stray dog problem.
- Reporting relies on family accounts, hospital staff and local sources, and some details—especially the final referral to Bhubaneswar—remain based on limited confirmation from those sources.