dog-s-timely-bark-saves-67-in-mandi-landslide

In what many are calling a miracle, a village dog became the unlikely messenger of God — its warning bark saving 67 lives in Mandi district — just moments before a deadly landslide struck in the dead of night, as relentless monsoon rains continued to lash Himachal Pradesh, triggering landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts.

 

Around midnight on June 30, the quiet village of Siyathi in Dharampur, Mandi, was reduced to rubble after a massive landslide hit. But thanks to a dog sleeping on the second floor of one home, tragedy was averted for many.

 

“I woke up from the barking. As I went to him, I saw a big crack in the wall of the house and water had started to enter. I ran downstairs with the dog and woke everyone up,” said Narendra, a resident of Siyathi.

 

Narendra quickly alerted the other locals of the village, urging them to flee the area. Under heavy rain, families ran for their lives, leaving everything behind. Moments later, the landslide struck the area, burying nearly a dozen homes. Only four or five houses are now visible; the rest are lost under the debris.

 

For the past week, survivors have been sheltering in the Naina Devi temple in nearby Triyambala village. Many are still reeling from the trauma, battling high blood pressure, anxiety, and emotional distress due to the tragedy. Support has been pouring in from nearby villages, and the government has provided ₹10,000 in aid to affected families.

 

Since the onset of the monsoon on June 20, at least 78 people have died in Himachal Pradesh, according to the State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA). Of these, 50 were killed in rain-related incidents like landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts; another 28 lost their lives in road accidents.

 

Mandi district remains one of the worst-hit, with 156 of the 280 closed roads located there. So far, the state has recorded 23 flash floods, 19 cloudbursts, and 16 major landslides. On Monday, the India Meteorological Department issued a flash flood alert across 10 districts, urging residents to remain on high alert.