Patna: A pack of rabid jackals has bitten more than two dozen people in Beldaur block of Khagaria over the past few days leaving residents in a state of panic. Several injured people have been admitted at the primary health centre at Beldaur. They have been administered anti-rabies vaccines.

Babloo Jha of Kaanjri village in Beldaur said: "Mad jackals entered our village on Tuesday evening and bit anybody who came their path. They ran amok and injured 14 people before fleeing." Range forest officer of Khagaria Ambika Sharan Singh said: "We are yet to receive any information on mad jackals running amok, but we know about jackal habitat in Beldaur and other areas in the district."

Jha said people were avoiding going out to their fields where paddy crop is ready.

"Those who sleep on the verandas of their houses have stopped doing it," he said.