The death of a 22-year-old Uttar Pradesh kabaddi player from rabies after having been bit by a stray dog he had rescued over a month ago has raised questions about availability to rabies treatment and public awareness in India.
In late May, Brijesh Solanki, a kabaddi player from Farana village who competed at the state level, rescued a stray dog from a sewer. According to local reports, the puppy bit him during the rescue, but Solanki reportedly considered it a minor injury and did not seek any medical attention or rabies vaccination.
His condition worsened by June 26, when he began experiencing symptoms consistent with rabies, including numbness in his arm and fear of water— a classic sign of hydrophobia. Attempts to get medical treatment at government hospitals in Khurja, Aligarh, and Delhi were allegedly unsuccessful, and he was later shifted to a private hospital in Noida.
In a desperate final attempt, his family took him to a traditional healer in Mathura. He died on July 1.
Local health officials have since launched a vaccination drive in Solanki’s village. Twenty-nine people who had come into contact with the puppy were administered anti-rabies shots as a precaution. Doctors are now urging the public to take every dog bite seriously, regardless of the animal’s age or the severity of the wound.
Rabies claims nearly 5,700 lives in India every year, according to the latest government estimates. Experts say the virus is almost always fatal once symptoms appear, but entirely preventable if treatment begins immediately after exposure.
Solanki’s death has raised alarms about the gaps in awareness and medical infrastructure. Health workers are calling for stronger campaigns and improved accessibility to life-saving vaccines, especially in rural areas where pet and stray interactions are frequent.
