SHIMLA: People of Syathi village in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district say they owe their lives to a dog when a flash flood struck in the early hours of July 1. According to villagers, the dog started barking at around 1.30am, long and loud enough for people to wake up and step out of their homes.“I was woken up by loud thunderous sounds and the barking of a dog. It was raining heavily and the dog wouldn’t stop barking. I instantly realised something was about to happen and started screaming and waking up the villagers,” said Dholu Ram, a resident. “I ran to each house to wake them up, and the dog also accompanied me,” said Dholu.All residents from 19 houses of the village ran out and started looking for a safe place. Seconds later, the flood roared in. “We tried to cross a nullah but its water level had risen by then. We turned back and started stepping down a cliff barefoot while holding our children. It was then the flood hit, and a huge landslide occurred,” said Dholu Ram.All 19 houses were swept away or damaged in the flood. Narender, another local, said his dog was barking persistently. “I woke up and rushed downstairs to wake my family members and other villagers.”