National Human Rights Commission
NHRC, India takes suo motu cognizance of the reported death of a man bitten by dog due to medical negligence in Sonipat, Haryana
The Commission issues notices to the Director, Directorate of General Health Services, and Commissioner, Sonipat, Haryana, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks
The report expected to include steps taken/ proposed to ensure that such incidents do not recur and compensation, if any, paid to the NoK of the deceased
Posted On:
20 MAR 2026 5:11PM by PIB Delhi
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), India has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that a resident of Sonipat in Haryana, bitten by a stray dog, allegedly died due to medical negligence. Reportedly, the victim’s family have alleged that non availability of anti-rabies vaccine and serum at the civil hospital forced them to rush him to a hospital in the bordering Narela in Delhi and thereafter from one hospital to another without proper treatment resulting in his death. They also alleged that Sonipat municipal corporation authorities have also failed to control the increasing number of stray dogs due to which a precious human life was lost.
The Commission has observed that the contents of the media report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of the victim. Therefore, it has issued a notice to the Director, Directorate of General Health Services, Department of Health, Government of Haryana and the Commissioner, Sonipat Municipal Corporation, calling for a detailed report on the matter within two weeks. It is expected to include the steps taken/ proposed by the authorities to ensure that such incidents do not recur and compensation, if any, paid to the NoK of the deceased.
According to the media report, carried on 17th March 2026, the 44-year-old man was bitten by a stray on the lip while he was collecting garbage and putting it into a truck on 15th February 2026. His family members rushed him to the civil hospital in Sonipat but due to shortage of anti-rabies vaccine and serum there, he was referred to Raja Harishchandra Hospital in the bordering Narela, Delhi. After 10 days of treatment, he was discharged on 25th February 2026.
However, on 3rd March 2026, his family members brought him to the same hospital again when he developed fever. But the hospital refused to admit him citing holiday due to Holi. Therefore, his family members brought him back home and on 5th March 2026 took him to a private hospital, which expressed its inability to treat the patient, referred him to ESI dispensary from where he was further taken to PGI, Rohtak, where he died.
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NSK
(Release ID: 2243038)
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