Residents live in fear as "mad" horse rules the roost

October 21, 2009

A horse's reign of terror in the Indian state of Madhya Pradesh has residents living in fear, according to a local news report.

India's central Chronicle, in a story headlined "Horse goes wild, bites people, many injured", reports at least 12 people "have fallen prey to the mad horse".

The animal is reportedly "wandering amok at a gallop", causing panic among residents.

"The bitten people are approaching hospitals to get the rabies vaccine," the newspaper reports.

"News of [the] horse going mad and biting people is rife," it continues.

"Residents from Hathvans area to Sardar ward, Zakir Hussain ward and Tilak ward are terrified of [the] mad horse's antics and biting."

The newspaper says post graduate college professor Dr Rajiv Maheshwari is among the victims, having been bitten on his arm and back.

"He is getting the rabies vaccine shot along with other medicines. Many other people of this area, affected by the horse biting, are reaching to the doctors for treatment and vaccination."

The Chronicle reports local medical advice, suggesting people seek treatment, fearing not only rabies but infection.

"The talk of horse bites being more dangerous than dog bites is further increasing panic in the people injured by the horse bite.

"The administration, police department and the Forest Department have been informed about the mad horse, but no-one seems to be concerned about the situation and the frenzied mad animal is wandering amok at a gallop, causing panic and furore among the residents, who are specially concerned for the safety of women and children."

Horses are able to contract rabies and it is fatal, but they do not display the kind of rabid behaviour seen in infected dogs and cats. Horses typically become significantly depressed rather than agitated or violent.