Villagers Carry Sick Man 7km Through 3-Foot Snow in India

When Shiv Lal's health took a dangerous turn on Wednesday night, his neighbors in Challai village faced an impossible choice: wait for help that might never come, or trek through three feet of snow in the Himalayas.

They chose to act. A group of young men built a palanquin from a wooden chair and logs, then carried the 75-year-old on their shoulders for seven kilometers through snow-buried mountain terrain.

Farmesh Rajput, who organized the rescue, knew his uncle needed urgent care. The January snowstorm had buried their only road for over a week, cutting off the remote village from the outside world.

"We did what our grandfathers did before proper roads existed," Farmesh explained. The team tied Shiv Lal securely to the chair to prevent him from slipping during the treacherous journey.

The rescue began at 9 a.m. Thursday morning. Four hours later, the exhausted but determined group reached Gada Bushani, where the snow had been cleared and vehicles could travel.

From there, Shiv Lal was rushed to Government Hospital Kullu, then transferred to a larger medical center in Shimla. He remains stable on oxygen support, his life saved by the quick thinking and physical endurance of his community.

Sunny's Take

This story shows what communities can accomplish when they refuse to give up on each other. These young men didn't have modern equipment or cleared roads, but they had something more powerful: the determination to help someone who needed them.

The incident highlights both a challenge and a triumph. While remote Himalayan villages still struggle with infrastructure after heavy snowfall, the bonds between neighbors remain unbreakable.

Local officials have now deployed machinery to clear the link road, which should be passable within two days. The snow-clearing effort had stalled because specialized equipment couldn't handle the steep terrain, but workers switched to JCB machines to finish the job.

For the people of Challai village, modern solutions are welcome. But they've already proven they don't need them to take care of their own.