A six-month-old pet dog in Siyathi village, Mandi district, became an unlikely hero after raising a life-saving alarm as multiple cloudbursts triggered flash floods and a massive landslide. His urgent howls in the middle of the night enabled over 60 villagers to escape to safety just minutes before devastation struck.
The incident occurred in the early hours of July 1, following a night of relentless rainfall. As torrential monsoon showers pounded the region, the Gaddi breed dog, named Rocky, began barking and howling loudly from the second floor of a multi-storey house. His owner, Narender, awoke and rushed to investigate, discovering a widening crack in the wall and muddy water seeping in.
Narender quickly grabbed Rocky, dashed downstairs and started banging doors to alert neighbours. Within moments, more than 60 people across about 20 families fled into the pitch‑dark night. They abandoned homes, livestock and possessions and scrambled up the slopes toward safety.
Within minutes, a massive landslide struck. Nearly a dozen houses were reduced to rubble as earth and water swept through Siyathi. Only a handful of structures—about four or five—remained visible by dawn. All villagers escaped unharmed thanks to Rocky’s alarm and Narender’s urgent warning.
Since June 20, Himachal Pradesh has been battered by relentless monsoon rains—with cloudbursts, flash floods and landslides claiming at least 78 lives statewide. The State Disaster Management Authority reports at least 50 deaths due to weather events and 28 due to road accidents so far this season. Mandi district, which has seen about ten cloudbursts and multiple landslides, is among the worst‑hit.
Villagers of Siyathi are now sheltering at the nearby Naina Devi temple at Triyambala, where they have taken refuge for over a week. They face trauma, illness, and anxiety—many report high blood pressure and emotional distress in the aftermath. The state government has distributed ** ₹10,000 to each affected household** as immediate relief .
Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu visited several disaster‑affected areas, including Nesai, Thunag, Janjheli and Lambathach, and met with affected families. He emphasised the need for forest‑land allotment for displaced communities and asked BJP MPs to pursue special clearance under the Forest Act to facilitate rehabilitation. The CM confirmed that each affected household will receive ₹7 lakh for rebuilding permanent homes.
Experts cite climate change as a key driver behind the unprecedented onslaught of extreme precipitation. This region experienced 8–10 cloudbursts in a single night, a phenomenon seldom observed before. Rapid warming increases atmospheric moisture capacity, intensifying monsoon downpours and elevating landslide risk in fragile Himalayan terrain.
The Siyathi incident has become a powerful example of animal instinct contributing to disaster response. Villagers credit Rocky’s acute sense of danger and timely alarm for sparing the entire community. Lalit Kumar, a survivor, said, “If we are alive today, it is only because of Rocky.” The puppy was later found stuck in nearby bushes 2–3 kilometres away – swept by the flood but alive.
The tragedy has renewed calls for strengthening early warning systems in vulnerable hill villages, enforcing stricter land‑use planning, and relocating settlements away from seasonal rivulets. Community leaders urge authorities to implement real‑time monitoring and alarm systems, along with disaster preparedness awareness at the grassroots.
As rescue and relief operations continue across Mandi, authorities face the daunting task of rebuilding shattered communities. Roads remain blocked, and search operations are ongoing for 27 people still missing. With monsoon yet to recede fully, the risk of further cloudbursts and landslides persists.
The story of Rocky, the brave puppy who howled through the rainstorm and saved lives, is being hailed as a beacon of hope amid widespread tragedy. In the face of climate‑driven disasters, communities across the Himalayas may need to rely on both human vigilance and the instincts of nature to weather the worst.
Photo Credit: The Hindu
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