Idukki: 'Hachikos of Pettimudy' wait to reunite with 'missing' masters

IDUKKI: When tragedy strikes, the pain endured by people is so overwhelming that the struggles of pets often go ignored -- until their grief catches someone's attention. Such is the heart-rending tale of two pet dogs at the site of the landslide in Pettimudy , Idukki that first caught the attention of a police officer and has since become the epitome of devotion and love.

Ranjit Sankarlal was on duty when the canines, dispirited and lonely, caught his eye. "I noticed them roaming the landslide site. They would sit in the clearings for hours, in anticipation, as if waiting for someone. They wouldn’t even accept food offered by volunteers," Sankarlal told TOI.

The cop with the Idukki crime branch was determined to dig deeper and found that the dogs belonged to two families in the layams that were destroyed in the landslide that struck in the early hours of August 7.

"The dogs are unmoved even when it rains. Maybe they are looking for their masters," Sankarlal said.

Devikulam sub-collector S Premkrishnan also noticed them. Even while coordinating various units on the site, he couldn't help but wonder what might be going through the minds of the animals.

"I'm told they are there all the time. Both look forlorn and seem to be waiting on and perhaps hoping to reunite with their masters," Premkrishnan told TOI.

Sankarlal posted an image of one of the dogs on his Facebook page and it went viral. The Pettimudy dogs, it seemed, reminded people of Hachiko, a Japanese dog that lived in the 1920-30s and is remembered for its exceptional loyalty. Unaware of his master's death, Hachiko would reach a railway station every day for almost ten years awaiting his return. Hachiko has been immortalized in popular culture with books, films and even statues dedicated in his honour.

"Tragedy brings all of humanity together in grief. I wish we could share the sorrow of these animals as well," Premkrishnan said.