After UP 'rabies raita' scare, Chhattisgarh village on edge over suspected exposure from goat feast

New Delhi: Panic has spread through Sarganwa village in Chhattisgarh's Surguja district after a goat allegedly bitten by a rabies-infected dog was sacrificed during a traditional ritual and its meat consumed by around 400 villagers.

The incident occurred on December 28 during Nikali Puja, a ritual held once every three years to worship local deities, where animal sacrifice is customary. This year, 12–15 goats were sacrificed and their meat distributed as part of a community feast.

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Villagers later claimed that one of the goats had earlier been bitten by a "mad dog" suspected to be infected with rabies. They alleged that despite this knowledge, the goat was still sacrificed and its meat distributed.

According to residents, the animal had been purchased from a local villager by the village sarpanch and deputy sarpanch. Villagers said they were not informed about the goat's suspected exposure to rabies at the time of the feast.

As news of the alleged dog bite surfaced, fear spread rapidly across the village.

Locals said only adult men consume the meat offered during the ritual, making them the primary group at risk. Residents have demanded accountability and immediate medical intervention.

After panic mounted, village leaders informed health authorities. Veterinary officials sought to reassure villagers. They said that rabies is primarily transmitted through the saliva of an infected animal, usually via bites. “If meat is thoroughly cooked at high temperatures, the rabies virus does not survive. The risk of infection through cooked meat is extremely low," a TOI report quoted Chandu Mishra, a govt veterinarian as saying.

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The incident has revived memories of a recent scare in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly district, where panic erupted after milk from a buffalo bitten by a rabid dog was used to prepare food. Health officials later said the risk was minimal.

Meanwhile, fear and anger continue to grip Sarganwa village as residents await further action from the administration.