As they say, a dog is man’s best friend, and he proved us right. It could have been one of the deadliest nights for a remote village in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district. However, God had other plans, and they came wrapped in fur and loyalty. An alarm that broke the silence and saved 67 lives was a dog that started barking loudly, which is frequently written off as background noise in rural areas. This is more than just a story — it serves as a heartfelt reminder that heroes can come from anywhere and in many forms.
The incident happened in Siyathi village, which is in the Dharampur region of Mandi, at around midnight on June 30. A dog sleeping on the second floor of a house started to bark and scream strangely, as the district had been devastated by heavy rain. When Narendra, his owner, got up to check on him, he found a big wall crack and water pouring into the house.
The Midnight Alarm: When A Dog Barked Saved Lives
The dog owner, Narendra, said,
“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.”
Other villagers were then woken by Narendra, who urged them to leave for their own safety. People left everything in search of cover because of how bad the rain was. A landslide struck the village shortly after, demolishing about a dozen homes. The village’s remaining houses are under the debris from the landslide, leaving only four or five visible.
All 67 villagers from 20 families suffered no injury thanks to the dog’s immediate alert.
Where Are The Survivors And What Happened To Them?
The Naina Devi temple in the neighboring village of Triyambala is now the shelter for survivors. After more than a week of staying there, many of them are suffering from feelings of hopelessness, stress, and high blood pressure as a result of the tragedy.
Local groups have offered assistance, and the government has given each impacted household an instant payment of Rs 10,000.
Himachal Pradesh has been experiencing a major monsoon issue. The State Disaster Management Authority (SDMA) reports that since the monsoon season began on June 20, at least 78 persons have lost their lives. Of these, 28 died in traffic accidents, while 50 died in rain-related tragedies like landslides, cloudbursts, and flash floods.
As the survivors of the Mandi tragedy find temporary shelter at the Naina Devi temple in Triyambala, their hearts carry the weight of all they have lost — their homes, peace, and the sense of safety they once knew. The trauma is still raw, with many experiencing stress, anxiety, and a terrific sense of uncertainty. While local communities and the government have stepped in with support and emergency medical facilities, the emotional scars will take far longer to heal than broken roads and shattered houses.
With 78 lives already lost to the unforgiving hand of nature, Himachal Pradesh continues to recover from the monsoon incident. Yet the inspiring stories of courage — like that of a dog who refused to give up on his people — remind us that even in the darkest hour, hope still has a voice. A bark. A savior. A reason to keep rebuilding.
Because while the rains may break the mountains and the houses, they cannot break the human spirit.
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