A police sniffer dog became the unlikely savior in Chhattisgarh when it located a 19-year-old man unconscious in a remote jungle after three days. Vimala, the expert tracker, followed the scent of a slipper for 10 kilometers through treacherous terrain in Bilaspur district, pinpointing Tarun Sidar amid thick foliage.
Tarun had been working in the fields of Dandbachali village on February 19 with relatives. After consuming alcohol with companions, he failed to return home that evening. Worried family members scoured neighborhoods and kin networks to no avail. By February 21, nephew Arun Singh lodged a formal complaint at Belgahna outpost.
Investigators learned of the drinking session from friends, who confirmed parting ways safely—except for Tarun. A breakthrough came with the recovery of his hat and footwear near the fields. Enter the dog squad: Vimala and handler Manoj Sahu.
Locking onto the slipper’s odor, Vimala navigated the dense forest with unerring precision. Her persistent barking revealed Tarun, weakened and delirious. Medical teams airlifted him to care, where experts diagnosed severe exhaustion from prolonged exposure sans sustenance, compounded by intoxication.
In his statement, Tarun described the haze of alcohol leading him astray into the night, hours of futile wandering ending in collapse. Authorities praised the operation’s efficiency, crediting dog squad integration for averting a fatal outcome and underscoring their vital role in rural rescues.