Marathon turns into ‘run for life’ as stray dogs attack athletes
NAINITAL: A marathon run in Nainital on Sunday turned into a sprint for several participating athletes who were forced to shift gears and run for their lives as a pack of stray dogs attacked them. At least two athletes were bitten and had to take anti-rabies injection.
Another athlete was attacked by a monkey and was given first aid.
Their dreams of winning a medal during the 8th Nainital Monsoon Mountain Marathon remained just that as they had to give up the run mid-way.
Earlier, the annual event started with much fanfare with international athletes Abdul Najir and P Shanker flagging off a half-marathon (21-km) and three other marathons of 10-km each --open category, for boys and girls, and for veterans. Different routes were marked for different categories.
For athletes Arun Adhikari and Laxman Singh, participating in the half-marathon, it was smooth run till they reached Anyar Pata. From there, however, it was a mad sprint to the Raj Bhawan as a pack of stray dogs attacked them.
“It was a sudden attack. We could hardly save ourselves. I feel sad that I had to leave the race midway,” said Adhikari. The organisers rushed Adhikari and Singh to the local BD Pandey Hospital where they were administered anti- rabies vaccine.
Meanwhile, another athlete, Pramod Patni, was attacked by a monkey and received several scratches. He was also taken to the hospital and given treatment.
Sources said that some other athletes too were attacked by the dogs but they preferred to consult private doctors unlike the other three who were taken to the government hospital.
HT however could not independently verify the source’s information.