Heroic Dog Saves 63 Lives in Himachal Landslide; How One Dog’s Bark Made All the Difference
In an incredible act of bravery and quick thinking, a five-month-old dog named Rocky became the unlikely hero of Siyathi village in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, saving 63 lives during a catastrophic landslide on June 26.
A Midnight Warning That Saved a Village
The disaster struck between 12:30 am and 1:00 am as relentless rains battered the region. Rocky, a pet dog sleeping on the ground floor of Lalit Kumar’s house, began barking and howling frantically—an unusual behavior that woke his owner.
“I was startled by Rocky’s persistent barking, as if he was trying to warn me,” Lalit recalled. Upon checking, he discovered a massive crack in the wall with water gushing inside. Realizing the danger, Lalit immediately grabbed Rocky and rushed to alert his family and neighbors.
From his elevated home, Lalit saw the terrifying sight of a landslide barreling toward the village. Without wasting a second, he ran door-to-door, waking up all 22 families in the area. His swift action gave the villagers just enough time to evacuate before disaster struck.
A Village Buried, But Lives Spared
Minutes after the evacuation, a devastating landslide engulfed Siyathi village, flattening nearly a dozen homes. Six to seven houses were completely buried under debris, while several others suffered severe damage. Miraculously, all 63 villagers escaped unharmed—thanks to Rocky’s sharp instincts and Lalit’s quick response.
Lalit, who had adopted Rocky just three months ago from his brother in Sandhol, Mandi, praised the pup’s alertness. However, in the chaos, Rocky himself got trapped and had to be rescued later.
Former village Sarpanch Desraj echoed the sentiment, saying, “It was our luck, and the dog’s actions, that saved us.”
Aftermath and Relief Efforts
The displaced families have taken shelter at the Naina Devi temple in nearby Triyambala village, roughly 500 meters from the disaster site. They have been living there for over a week, relying on community support and government aid.
Authorities have provided immediate relief of ₹10,000 to each affected family, while locals have stepped forward to assist with food and essentials.
Rocky’s heroic act serves as a powerful reminder of how animals can sense danger before humans—and how one brave bark can make the difference between life and death.
