In a poignant display of canine loyalty that has captured hearts across social media, a pitbull named Jonu stood guard for four consecutive days over his deceased companions in the snow-clad hills of Himachal Pradesh's Chamba district. The dog remained steadfast beside the frozen bodies of cousins Viksit, 19, and Piyush, 13, refusing to abandon his post despite hunger, thirst, and freezing temperatures.
A Tragic Discovery in the Snow
On Monday, when Indian Air Force pilots and mountain rescue teams finally located the missing boys atop a hill in Chamba, they encountered a heartbreaking scene. The two youths were found frozen to death, with Jonu standing vigil beside them. The pitbull appeared famished and broken, yet remained brave and alert—as if waiting for the boys to wake up and call him.
For over thirty minutes, the rescue team attempted to coax Jonu away from his fallen friends. The dog resisted all efforts to move him, maintaining his protective stance. Eventually, perhaps sensing that the rescuers meant no harm, Jonu allowed himself to be carried away. Even then, he watched from a distance, unmoving yet vigilant.
The Bond That Transcended Training
Viksit and Piyush hailed from Malkota village, approximately 115 kilometers from Dalhousie and 60 kilometers from Chamba town. According to Sanjiv Kumar, sarpanch of Sanchuiane village which includes Malkota, Viksit's father Sanjay Rana had acquired two pitbull puppies from a relative and gifted them to the boys.
The cousins grew up alongside these dogs, developing a bond that went beyond mere ownership. Wherever Viksit and Piyush went, the pitbulls followed—not because they were trained to do so, but because they felt they truly belonged with the boys. The second pitbull was also present during their ill-fated trek last Thursday but remains missing.
A Family's Heartbreaking Circumstances
The tragedy reveals deeper family struggles. Piyush had been sent to live with Viksit's family years earlier because his own father suffers from mental health issues and cannot adequately support their eight-member household through irregular work.
Viksit's father passed away last year, leaving the family in vulnerable circumstances. While they typically migrated to lower regions during winter months, they remained in Chamba this year for reasons that remain unclear. Viksit's mother Neeta Devi had mentioned plans to move to Indora near the Punjab border about ten days before the incident, but the family never made the journey.
The Fatal Trek for Social Media Content
A few months prior to the tragedy, Viksit's mother had gifted the cousins a smartphone, sparking their interest in vlogging. The young men hoped their voices could reach further than their feet ever could through social media content creation.
On January 22, aiming to shoot a reel, the two set off for the snow-covered Barmani range near their village. They trekked to Barmani Temple before venturing further into its upper reaches—an area known to become treacherous after snowfall.
Ignoring Weather Warnings
Bharmour Sub-Divisional Magistrate Vikash Sharma confirmed there was a yellow alert for snowfall on the day the boys embarked on their journey. Despite the warning, they proceeded with their plans. That night, weather conditions deteriorated dramatically, with heavy snow blanketing the mountains.
When the cousins failed to return home on January 23, panic set in. Their families contacted local authorities, who determined the filming area was buried under more than three feet of snow. The administration launched a rescue operation involving police, State Disaster Response Force personnel, mountaineers, and local volunteers, but fresh snowfall made the mission extremely hazardous.
A Chilling Final Phone Call
On that same day, Viksit managed to place a heartbreaking phone call to his family. Speaking in a weak voice, he reported that his fingers were so numb he couldn't send his location. Gasping for breath, he mentioned that Piyush was growing weaker and that he was attempting to "bring him back by using a sleeping bag."
The Challenging Rescue Operation
Visibility dropped further on January 24, complicating rescue efforts. Authorities considered using drones, but most local operators—typically engaged in wedding photography—had moved to Pathankot and Nurpur due to the harsh winter. While an official drone was available, its operator lacked sufficient experience for mountain rescue operations.
With no helicopter available at that stage, hopes began to dim. The situation changed on January 25 when the Indian Air Force deployed two helicopters. Multiple sorties were attempted despite dangerous weather conditions.
Final Recovery Efforts
On the morning of January 26, a helicopter crew spotted a body lying in the snow with a dog standing beside it. The pilots guided ground teams to the location, where they retrieved one body and had it flown out. During a second sortie, rescuers managed to retrieve Jonu.
In another daring operation, helicopter pilots flew dangerously close to the terrain until they spotted the second victim. By Monday afternoon, both bodies were handed over to their grieving families, with last rites performed on Tuesday.
The tragic incident has sparked conversations about mountain safety, weather awareness, and the extraordinary bonds between humans and their animal companions. Jonu's unwavering loyalty through four days of snow and cold stands as a testament to the depth of connection that can exist between pets and their human families.
