In the middle of chaos, when roads disappeared and help couldn’t be found any sooner, a group of students and colleagues did something extraordinary — they carried two pregnant teachers from the College of Horticulture and Forestry in Thunag, Mandi, to safety on foot, through dangerous, broken terrain.
Thanks to that act of sheer will and heroic courage, both expectant mothers were saved, and two new lives came into this world. Dr. Neha gave birth to a healthy baby boy on July 8 at the Civil Hospital in Sundernagar, Mandi. Dr. Sarita had a baby girl on July 12 at Sai Hospital in Hamirpur.
Dr. Neha Thakur and Dr. Sarita were both close to their due dates when the floods hit Seraj Valley. The relentless rains had cut off road access, disrupted power and water supplies, and left entire villages stranded. In Thunag alone, nearly 115 homes and 100 shops were damaged, and five lives were lost.
On July 2, realising that outside help wouldn’t be able to reach the remote village in such conditions, students and faculty members came together. They tied together cloth, sticks — whatever they could find — and created makeshift palanquins. Then, in the pouring rain, navigating difficult mountain terrain and swollen streams, they began an 11-km trek from Thunag to Bagsyad.
There were no proper trails — just landslide-prone paths, waterlogged stretches, and moments when the palanquins couldn’t go forward. At those points, the two teachers displayed incredible resilience. They walked slowly and carefully, with the help of those around them. The journey wasn’t smooth — it was risky, rough, and exhausting. But they kept going.
Among those who led the way were students, including Prikshit Verma, Shivang, Tushar Thakur, Uday Thakur, Dipak Thakur, Aryan, Vineet, Aryan Atri, Ayushman, and others. They not only carried the palanquins but also offered moral support and protection throughout the entire journey.
Faculty members, including Dr. Himani, Dr. Rajat, Dr. Ajinder, Dr. Jai Pal, Dr. Kishore Sharma, Dr. Kishore Thakur, Dr. Vijay Rana, Kuldeep, and Neem Chand, were right there with them, guiding and supporting. Dean Dr. P.L. Sharma coordinated it all, making sure they had what they needed to get through safely.
In a time when much was lost — homes, livelihoods, and lives — this rescue became a symbol of what it means to show up for each other. No fancy gear. No waiting for orders. Just people doing what had to be done.
Social media has since been full of messages of awe, love, and respect. But for the students and staff who made that journey, it wasn’t about praise. It was about care. About carrying life through crisis.
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