Bengaluru, 20 Nov

The government has rolled out a new compensation scheme for victims of stray dog attacks, including substantial financial support for families of those who die from dog bites. Under the revised directive, the families of individuals who die due to dog bites will receive Rs 5 lakh. For non-fatal injuries, victims will be paid Rs 5,000, of which Rs 3,500 will go directly to the injured person and Rs 1,500 to the Suvarna Arogya Suraksha Trust to cover treatment expenses.

The announcement comes as Karnataka witnesses a steep rise in dog-bite cases. Between January and August 2025, the state recorded approximately 2.86 lakh cases, already exceeding the total for 2024. Some estimates place the figure even higher, with nearly 3.98 lakh cases reported up to October 2025. Officials say the surge may reflect improved reporting and greater public awareness, although the accuracy of some data has been questioned due to the way cases are recorded.

In previous years, Karnataka saw 1.63 lakh dog-bite cases in 2022 and 2.32 lakh in 2023. By August 2024, more than 2.22 lakh cases had been reported, rising to over 2.73 lakh by September, surpassing the entire count for 2023.

All municipal corporations under the Greater Bengaluru Authority will now be required to set up a Verification and Compensation Disbursement Committee to assess claims and ensure timely distribution of compensation.