Himachal: Pet Dog Guards Dead Body Of His Owner For 48 Hours In Snow

In a tragic incident, two tourists visiting snow-clad areas of Himachal Pradesh lost their lives after they met with an accident. The man Abhinandan Gupta, who was travelling with his friend Parnita, fell into the deep gorge in Bir-Billing range in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. What helped the rescue team find their bodies was Gupta's dog, Alpha, who not only guarded his owner but also barked enough to seek help.

As per the reports, Abhinandan Gupta hailed from Pathankot while his friend Parnita belonged to Pune, Maharashtra. The duo were living together for some time at Bir-Billing in Kangra district of Himachal Pradesh. On Sunday afternoon, they had gone to Billing, a tourist station near Palampur, in a car. Alpha also accompanied the duo. 

However, due to heavy snow, the duo left the car midway and went to Billing on foot with Alpha. While returning to their base camp Chogan near Bir, they slipped and fell into a deep gorge.

How did the police learn about the bodies? 

When Gupta didn't return home, his brother-in-law informed the police. The police then formed a rescue team and sent it to search the area around Lambar Mod where the bodies were later found. An official told the media, "When the rescue teams reached they found footsteps thus it is assumed that both tried to come out of the gorge but could not do so and seemed to have died because of acute cold conditions and injuries. As the injured dog was barking thus both of them could be located; Alpha was wailing sitting next to the bodies as he was in grief hoping that his owner could be saved. The dog guarded the bodies for 48 hours till Tuesday when the rescue team reached the spot. The dog allowed the rescue team to take away the bodies from the gorge and accompanied them till Bir where the bodies were shifted to the mortuary." 

As per the sources, Alpha saved himself his owner and his friend's bodies from the attack of wild animals like black bears and leopards which are common at the height of 9,000ft. The bodies had incurred injuries due to wild animal attacks.  

Sub Divisional Magistrate of Palampur DC Thakur said, “It seems that they slipped due to the heavy snow along with their dog and died. The rescuers located them as they heard a dog barking and crying sitting along the bodies."