In a stunning display of canine prowess, a police dog in Chhattisgarh’s Bilaspur district has saved a young man’s life. Tarun Sidar, who went missing after a day in the fields, was found unconscious deep in a dense forest, over 10 kilometers from home. The four-legged hero, Vimala, sniffed out his trail from a single slipper and led rescuers straight to him.
The incident unfolded in Dandbachali village under Belgahna police station. On February 19, 19-year-old Tarun headed to the fields with family members for work. As evening fell, he didn’t return. Initial searches by relatives turned up empty, prompting his nephew Arun Singh to file a missing person report two days later.
Family members revealed Tarun had shared drinks with friends in the field that day. While others made it home, Tarun vanished. Police interrogated the group but got no leads. Then, near the field, officers discovered his cap and a slipper—key clues that prompted the deployment of the dog squad.
Vimala, handled by Manoj Sahu, took the scent from the slipper and charged into the thick jungle. For nearly 10 kilometers, she tracked relentlessly, barking furiously at the spot where Tarun lay collapsed. Paramedics rushed him to the hospital just in time.
Doctors attributed his condition to dehydration, starvation, and alcohol effects after wandering lost overnight. Upon regaining consciousness, Tarun recounted getting disoriented in the dark woods, succumbing to exhaustion without food or water. Police hailed Vimala’s instincts as pivotal, emphasizing how swift action and specialized units turned tragedy into triumph.