Mumbai News: Powai Woman Injured in Brutal Double Dog Attack, 20 Stitches Required
Mumbai News: Powai Woman Injured in Brutal Double Dog Attack, 20 Stitches Required
A horrific attack occurred on March 22 in a Powai housing society, leaving a 37-year-old woman scientist with severe injuries. The victim was brutally attacked by two pet dogs, a Doberman and a Pitbull, who inflicted deep wounds on her face and thigh. The attack lasted for almost five minutes, leaving the woman with a severely injured face, requiring 20 stitches and a complete nose reconstruction. The woman recounted her terrifying ordeal to the local newspaper, highlighting the brutal nature of the attack. Doctors have advised her to rest to facilitate a faster recovery.
While standing outside her building, a car stopped a few meters away in the society compound, and two dogs jumped out. The pit bull was leashed and held by a helper, but she wasn’t sure if the Doberman was leashed.
Without warning, the black pit bull rushed toward her. “I was taken aback, but I tried to push him away. Instead, he started pawing at my leg,” she said.
Before she could react, the Doberman charged at her, knocking her to the ground.
The woman recounted the attack, saying one dog ripped her jeans and tore flesh from her leg, while another, a pit bull, bit off part of her nose. She screamed for help but was left unaided for nearly five minutes. Eventually, neighbors intervened, pulling the dogs away.
The woman described the aftermath: “I was in excruciating pain, covered in blood.” Her husband, a retired defense personnel, explained that neighbors rushed her to the hospital, where surgeons reconstructed her nose. The woman reflected on the traumatic experience, saying, “It was life-threatening; I thought I wouldn’t make it.” She continues to face challenges during her recovery.
Dog Owner Blames the Woman
Instead of expressing any sympathy, the dog owner reportedly blamed the woman for the attack. “He claimed I provoked the dogs by running, but I didn’t move at all. I was standing still when they suddenly lunged at me,” she said. The dog owner lives in the same housing complex, though in a different building.
Advice to Pet Owners
The woman has urged pet owners to take more responsibility for their animals. “If you truly love your pets, control them. Always leash them in public. Your pets might be affectionate towards you, but they could still pose a danger to others. If a child had been in my place, they wouldn’t have survived,” she said. She emphasized that such negligence puts everyone, especially children and the elderly, at great risk.
Legal Measures
The Powai police were alerted, and officers visited Jalvayu Vihar CHS. They later recorded the woman’s statement at the hospital and filed an FIR against the dog owner, Divesh Virk, as well as the driver, Atul Sawant, and the helper, Swati, under Section 291 (negligent conduct concerning animals) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Senior Inspector Jitendra Sonawane from Powai Police Station said, “We have launched an investigation. No arrests have been made yet, but notices have been sent to them to appear for questioning.”
