Mandi: In a remarkable tale of animal heroism amidst the monsoon's fury, a vigilant dog in Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district is being credited with saving the lives of 67 villagers. Its incessant barking prompted a timely evacuation just moments before a devastating landslide wiped out much of their village.

The incident unfolded in Siyathi village, located in the Dharampur area of Mandi, on June 30, between midnight and 1 AM. As heavy monsoon rains lashed the region, a massive landslide tore through the village, leaving a trail of destruction. As reported by NDTV, a resident named Narendra recounted how his dog, typically sleeping quietly on the second floor, began barking and howling intensely. This unusual behaviour prompted Narendra to investigate, where he discovered a large crack forming in the wall of his home and water gushing in.

Acting quickly on the alarming signs, Narendra immediately woke his family and then roused other villagers, urging them to evacuate to safety. Their swift response proved to be life-saving. Shortly after the 67 inhabitants fled their homes, the full force of the landslide struck, flattening nearly a dozen houses and engulfing the area. The survivors are now finding refuge in the Naina Devi temple, their homes reduced to rubble.

Himachal Pradesh has been grappling with widespread devastation due to the relentless monsoon, which has claimed 78 lives since June 20. Of these, 50 fatalities are directly attributed to rain-related incidents such as landslides, flash floods, and cloudbursts. Mandi district has borne a significant brunt of this calamity, recording the highest number of deaths and experiencing numerous road closures, highlighting the severe impact on the state's infrastructure and communities.