Teen Runs Into Flooded Home To Save Pet Dog, Dies After Wall Collapses On Him

A teen died while attempting to save his pet dog during floods in Pune, a city in the western Indian state of Maharashtra on Thursday morning.

Floodwater began filling up inside 14-year-old Rohit’s home following days of heavy rains. As the water level started increasing, the boy took charge of the situation and immediately shifted his grandmother to a safe place. However, upon getting out of the home, Rohit realized his pet puppy was still inside. He immediately ran into the home and started looking for his pet. He eventually managed to rescue the canine and moved it to a safe place.

Unfortunately, while getting out of the home, the wall of his apartment complex collapsed, resulting in him getting trapped under the debris. He succumbed to injuries.

Speaking to My Medical Mantra, Tejas Anavkar, the victim’s uncle, said, “As the water level was rising inside the house, Rohit showed the presence of mind and shifted his grandmother to a safer place. Then he went inside to rescue his puppy. He managed to save him, but while coming out, the wall of the society suddenly collapsed on him and he died.”

Rohit lived with his grandmother following his mother’s death and the puppy was his “best friend.”

“Rohit's puppy was his best friend. Rohit's mother had died a long time ago when he was a young child. After which he was residing with his grandmother,” his uncle added.

Meanwhile, at least 19 people were confirmed dead and several missing in flooding and wall collapse incidents, triggered by intense rainfall in and around the city. A 10-month-old baby and his family stuck outside their house were rescued by the firefighters Thursday. Video of the rescue showed the infant being rescued by the officials using a plastic tube.

"We received a call that a family of five was stranded. On reaching there, we found that the family members were sitting on a water tank outside their house and there was a toddler among them. After putting the baby in a basket, I kept it on a life ring (plastic tube) and swam along with it towards safety," fire officer Maruti Devkule said.