Deep in Chhattisgarh’s wilds, a dog’s extraordinary sense of smell rescued a missing youth from the brink of death. Bilaspur police’s Vimala dashed 10 kilometers through jungle undergrowth, guided by a lone slipper, to discover 19-year-old Tarun Sidar unconscious after three lost days.
It started routinely in Dandbachali village. Tarun joined family for fieldwork on February 19. Post-labor, with some alcohol shared among mates, he never made it back. Desperate kin searched locally and beyond, filing a report via Arun Singh on the 21st at Belgahna station.
Clues emerged: friends accounted for their return, but not Tarun’s. Fieldside, police found his cap and chappal. This spurred the call for elite canine assistance. Handler Manoj Sahu and Vimala arrived, ready for action.
Vimala inhaled the slipper’s trace and bolted toward the forest depths. Undeterred by the challenging path, she covered vast distance, alerting with barks at Tarun’s prone form. Swift medical evacuation followed, stabilizing him against organ failure from dehydration and neglect.
Awake in hospital, Tarun explained the night’s disorientation under influence, endless trekking without resources leading to blackout. Officials spotlighted the timely dog squad mobilization, transforming a routine missing case into a testament of animal-human synergy in life-saving missions.