The Idukki landslide has claimed almost 70 lives, and the numbers are still not final. In light of this disaster, there have been search-operations that have been going on ever since the news of the landslide made the news. On Saturday, the body of a two-year-old toddler was unearthed from the landslide, thanks to a dog that belonged to her family.
Koovi, the dog that belonged to the toddler Dhanushka’s family, had been waiting next to the site of the landslide for two days without moving. She had been running around the area of frantically and trying to find the bodies of their owners. Upon noticing this, rescue forces conducted search operations in that region. They discovered the body of the toddler along with a child’s piggy Bank believed to have been possessed by one of the 17 children who were found.
“I was there at the spot while Dhanushka’s body was being retrieved. The dog seemed to be upset. There is a bridge named Cemet bridge. Her body was found near a tree under the bridge. It was lying in the river, which flows through Pettimudi. The dog caught the smell and helped the rescue workers find the baby’s body.” Idukki MP Dean Kuriakose was reported saying.
Along with Koovi, two other dogs had also been circling the area and had been trying to find their owners. Many are yet to be recovered from the debris.