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In a heart-wrenching display of unwavering loyalty, a pet pit bull in India's Himachal Pradesh stood guard over the body of a teenager for four days after he died amid harsh winter weather.
Two cousins, Viksit Rana (19) and Piyush Kumar (13), had ventured toward the Bharmani Mata Temple in Chamba on 22 January to record videos. The duo went missing and lost all contact with their families after being caught in heavy snowfall.
#WATCH | In Chamba’s freezing heights, a loyal dog keeps 4-day vigil over teen’s body
— Hindustan Times (@htTweets) January 27, 2026
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Impeded by severe weather conditions, rescue teams were only able to locate the victims' bodies days later, on Monday. During the search, teams spotted the dog, trembling with cold and exhaustion, sitting firmly beside Piyush's body.
Stranded amid a thick blanket of snow and freezing winds, the dog, which belonged to Viksit, survived for several days without food or water, refusing to abandon the younger boy.
Rescue personnel told local media that when they attempted to retrieve the body, the dog initially became aggressive, seemingly believing the strangers intended to harm the teenager. After gentle coaxing and reassurance, the dog finally relented, allowing the team to recover the body.
The pet has since been returned to Viksit’s family.
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