Written by Alisha Fernandes || Allycaral
For four unforgiving days, paws buried deep in snow and breath battling sub-zero winds, Jonu stood guard.
Neither hunger, thirst nor the brutal cold of the Himalayas could move the pitbull from the side of his companions — cousins Viksit (19) and Piyush (13) — who had gone silent atop a snow-covered hill in Himachal Pradesh’s Chamba district.
When Indian Air Force pilots and mountain rescue teams finally reached the spot on Monday, they were met with a sight that would leave hardened rescuers visibly shaken. The two boys lay frozen to death, and beside them stood Jonu — alert, broken, yet fiercely protective. For over half an hour, the dog refused to leave his post, as if still waiting for the boys to wake up and call his name.
Repeated attempts by the rescue team to move him away failed. It was only after Jonu seemed to understand that the men were there to help, not harm, that he allowed himself to be carried away — still watching from a distance, unmoving and vigilant.
A video capturing this tragic moment has since gone viral, touching millions and reminding the world of the silent, unconditional loyalty animals are capable of.
A Bond Forged in Childhood
Viksit and Piyush were from Malkota village, around 60 km from Chamba town. According to local sarpanch Sanjiv Kumar, Viksit’s father had gifted two pitbull pups to the boys years ago. They grew up together — not as owners and pets, but as family.
Piyush had been living with Viksit’s family after his own father, battling mental illness, could not support a family of eight. The boys found companionship not just in each other, but in their dogs, who followed them everywhere — not out of training, but belonging.
Viksit lost his father last year. While the family usually migrated to lower regions during harsh winters, they stayed back this season. Just days before the tragedy, Viksit’s mother had spoken about plans to move — plans that never came to be.
A Reel That Turned Fatal
On January 22, the boys set out to film content for social media in the snow-laden Barmani range, hoping their voices would travel further than their feet ever could. They trekked beyond the Barmani Temple into upper reaches known to become dangerous after snowfall — despite a yellow alert issued that day.
That night, heavy snow engulfed the mountains.
By January 23, panic set in as the boys failed to return. Rescue operations were launched, but snowfall exceeding three feet made access nearly impossible. Amid fading hope, Viksit managed a chilling phone call to his family — his fingers numb, voice weak, struggling to keep Piyush alive using a sleeping bag.
Weather conditions worsened. Drones were unavailable. Helicopters were grounded. Time slipped away.
The Final Rescue
On January 25, the Indian Air Force deployed helicopters despite dangerous conditions. The next morning, pilots spotted a body lying in the snow — with a dog standing beside it. Guided by aerial visuals, rescue teams recovered the first body.
In a second sortie, Jonu was rescued.
In a final daring operation, the second body was located and retrieved. By Monday afternoon, both victims were handed over to their families. The last rites were performed on Tuesday.
The whereabouts of the second pitbull remain unknown.
What remains unmistakably clear is Jonu’s vigil — a silent testimony to love, loyalty, and a bond stronger than life itself.
