Sambalpur, Nov 14: A shocking incident highlighting the plight of homeless and destitute people has been reported from Maneswar Chowk on the outskirts of Sambalpur city, where a man was allegedly seen eating flesh from the carcass of a dog killed in a road accident.

The incident reportedly occurred between 9.10 pm and 9.15 pm on Friday, leaving local residents stunned.

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According to eyewitness Ranjan Badi, he and a few others were passing through Maneswar Chowk when they noticed a man sitting in the middle of the road. As they approached him, they were horrified to see him tearing flesh from the carcass of a dog, which had reportedly been run over by a vehicle, and eating it.

The man's behaviour and appearance led residents to suspect that he was extremely hungry and possibly suffering from a mental health condition.

Badi said some people tried to stop him and urged him not to consume the dead animal. However, the man initially ignored their warnings and continued eating. He reportedly gave an aggressive look when people attempted to intervene, frightening those present.

As more people gathered and tried to stop him, the man suddenly fled the spot.

Local residents said the man had reportedly visited a nearby hotel shortly before the incident. However, the hotel staff allegedly failed to understand what he was trying to communicate. He subsequently left the hotel and may have resorted to eating the dead animal after being unable to bear his hunger.

The disturbing incident has raised concerns over the plight of homeless, destitute and vulnerable people who may be deprived of basic necessities such as food, shelter and medical care.

It has also highlighted the need for timely identification, intervention and rehabilitation of people living on the streets, particularly those who may be struggling with mental health issues.