Had the Municipal Corporation constructed a dog pound in the city, district and sessions judge KK Garg would not have had to suffer a nightmare after he was bitten by a stray mongrel on Monday. The dog died immediately after the incident. Worryingly, doctors say this could be a symptom of rabies.

According to information, the incident occurred when district and sessions judge (DSJ) Garg was holding a public langar (community kitchen) at Sanatam Dharam temple in Sector 24.

While he was distributing milk and other items among the devotees, a stray dog attacked Garg and bit him on the leg. While the judge's family rushed him to Government Multi-specialty Hospital, Sector 16, police personnel from Sector 24 police post informed MC officials about the mishap, sources said.

A team of the civic body immediately reached the spot and captured the dog, which reportedly died in their custody.

The sources added after Garg's kin came to know about the animal's death, they took him to PGI. ''An injured judge was admitted to internal medicine department's emergency ward and his condition is stable,'' a senior doctor confirmed to TOI.

The dog's autopsy would be conducted as there was a possibility of its being rabid, the doctor added. Not taking any chances, the judge has been vaccinated and administered immunoglobulin. The sources said Garg would be discharged soon.

Commenting on the case, experts said in case of dog bite, the patient must be rushed to a nearby hospital.