Kerala: How a dog saved its human family from disaster
Rains and floods have ravaged Kerala, leaving at least 37 people dead and some 35,000 displaced. Rescue personnel are hard at work, trying to save as many as they can. But it is not just humans who are helping their peers - a dog in Kanjikuzhy village of Idukki became a savior for its owners by warning them of a landslide in the nick of time.
Mohanan's family was fast asleep when Rocky started howling
Thursday night, Mohanan P and his family were fast asleep in their home. Sometime around 3 in the night, their dog, Rocky, started barking. Initially, Mohanan didn't pay attention; it was not unusual for Rocky to bark at such times. However, he soon figured something was wrong: Rocky wasn't barking like he usually did, he was howling. It was clear to him that the dog was distressed.
They escape death just in time, but others weren't lucky
Finally, he decided to check what was happening, and still thanks god that he didn't ignore Rocky's cries for longer. When the family came out, they found out why the dog was terrified: a landslide was impending. They rushed out just in time. An elderly couple living above Mohanan wasn't so lucky. They were killed, but their daughter-in-law and one-year-old granddaughter were rescued.
NDRF officer becomes hero after bravely saving child
Like Rocky, NDRF officer Kanhaiya Kumar has also earned praises from all over. Kumar, who was posted in Idukki, was captured sprinting across a bridge carrying a child, even as the water below almost submerged the bridge. The child was suffering from fever and had to be rushed to a hospital, Kumar said. Minutes after he crossed the bridge, it went under water.
CM assures compensation to those who lost family-members and homes
Twelve relief camps have been set up in Idukki alone, one of the worst affected regions. Some 130 families are living in one camp. Teams of NDRF and army have been deployed in various areas, including Thrissur, Ernakulam, Wayanad and Kozhikode. CM Pinarayi Vijayan has announced compensation of Rs. 4L to families of those killed, and Rs. 4L for those who lost houses.
