Kerala: Stray dog bites Italian intern at Payyambalam beach in Kannur

On 24th December, a 26-year-old Italian woman was bitten by a stray dog at Payyambalam beach in Kannur while out for an evening walk during Christmas celebrations. The incident took place at around 4.20 pm. She sustained bite injuries on her leg.

The victim has been identified as Jessica Serena Alexander. She is a native of Italy who had come to India as part of an internship programme. She has been living in Bengaluru for around one and a half months and came to Kannur on 23rd December.

According to media reports, a group of around four stray dogs suddenly attacked her. One of them bit her on the leg. Pink Police personnel who were on monitoring duty at the beach rushed to her aid and immediately shifted her to the District Hospital. She was provided medical treatment and anti-rabies vaccination. Hospital staff said her condition was stable.

Concerns over waste and lighting at beach walkway

The incident has once again brought focus to the growing menace of stray dogs along the beach and adjoining walkway. Locals have repeatedly complained that food waste and garbage dumped along the beach and pedestrian paths attract a large number of stray dogs.

Although waste bins were installed during the inauguration of the walkway, residents said that many of them are either missing or inadequate at present. There are also complaints that several streetlights installed along the walkway are non-functional.

Despite the poor lighting, tourists and local residents continue to use the beach walkway at night, forcing many to walk in fear due to low visibility and the presence of stray dogs.

Disclaimer: This news report is based on information published by mainstream media outlets. For full context and additional details, readers are advised to refer to the original news reports linked above.

About this project: This website is independently maintained. Its purpose, operation, and disclosures are explained here.