As torrential rains battered Himachal Pradesh last week, triggering widespread destruction across the state, one heroic dog’s instinctive barking turned into a life-saving alarm for dozens. In the dead of night, while landslides and flash floods wreaked havoc in Mandi district, a dog’s warning cry became the difference between life and death for 67 villagers in Siyathi.
According to a report by NDTV, the dramatic incident took place on June 30, sometime between midnight and 1 am. The village of Siyathi in the Dharampur area was on the brink of devastation when a resident, Narendra, was jolted awake by his dog’s frantic barking. The dog, who was sleeping on the second floor of his house, had started howling uncontrollably. When Narendra rushed to check, he noticed a large crack in the wall and water gushing into the home.
Narendra ran downstairs with the dog and woke everyone up. Wasting no time, he rushed through the village, waking up his neighbours and urging them to flee. Within minutes, a massive landslide tore through Siyathi, flattening nearly a dozen houses. Most of the village was buried under mud and debris. Only four or five homes now remain visible; the rest lie buried in the landslide’s path. 67 people were saved, thanks to Narendra’s quick action and his dog’s timely warning.
Monsoon rain destruction in Himachal Pradesh
The devastation wasn’t limited to Siyathi. Himachal Pradesh has witnessed widespread destruction due to heavy monsoon rains, flash floods, and landslides since June 20. As per PTI, 225 houses, seven shops, 243 cattle sheds, 31 vehicles, and 14 bridges were damaged across the state. The disaster also led to the death of 215 cattle, while 494 people were rescued.
On Sunday evening, 243 roads remained blocked in Himachal Pradesh, with 183 closures reported in Mandi district alone, according to the State Emergency Operation Centre (SEOC). The SEOC also noted that 241 power transformers and 278 water supply schemes were affected.
Losses from the ongoing rainfall and disasters have been pegged at Rs 572 crore, per the SEOC’s report. However, the Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister has indicated that the actual figure is closer to Rs 700 crore, as updated data continues to come in. The local meteorological office has issued a yellow alert for heavy rainfall in isolated regions of the state until Thursday, July 10. With the rains far from over, the state remains on edge.
Since the onset of the monsoon, 78 people have lost their lives, with 50 deaths directly linked to rain-related calamities like cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides. At least 121 individuals have sustained injuries.
