KHANPUR, Jan 4: A five-year-old girl, bitten by a rabid dog, died on Monday night due to unavailability of anti-rabies vaccine at a Shaidani Sharif village.

Reports said Samia, daughter of Sunhara Khan of Bagh Arain, was bitten by a rabid dog but could not be saved, as the necessary vaccine was not available at the nearest health centre.

Earlier, eight-year-old Zeeshan was bitten by a stray dog at Jewaya Larr. Meanwhile, residents of the area said the number of stray dogs had risen in several localities, including Shaidani Sharif, Azeempur, Multani and Bagh Arain, posing a serious threat to pedestrians.

They have urged the health department and the local municipal authorities to take immediate action and ensure provision of anti-rabies vaccine to rural health centres. -APP