Surat: A four-year-old boy of migrant family from Uttar Pradesh was critically injured after being mauled by a pack of stray dogs in the Sachin area of the city on Monday, highlighting once again the growing concern over stray dog attacks across the country. The incident happened outside the Diamond Eco Park in Gabheni area of city.

The child, identified as Shivraj, lives with the Rajesh Prajapati family in Sachin. According to police and local residents, he had accompanied his father, Rajesh Prajapati, near a company close to Eco Diamond Park when a group of at least four stray dogs suddenly attacked him outside the premises.

Witnesses said the dogs pounced on the child without warning, inflicting severe injuries on his head and multiple parts of his body. Locals rushed to rescue the boy, and a passerby managed to pull him away from the dogs.

The child, bleeding heavily, was immediately shifted to Surat Civil Hospital. Doctors treating him said he has sustained deep injuries on his head and more than 50 bite wounds across the body. His condition remains extremely critical.

Family members who reached the hospital were overwhelmed with grief, with the mother breaking down upon seeing the child’s condition.

Residents of the area expressed shock over the incident, pointing to repeated complaints about stray dog attacks in various parts of the city. The incident has once again raised concerns about public safety and the need for urgent measures to control aggressive stray dog population.