Army Canines Sara, Opana, Jansi, Hazel, June, and Rahi Hailed as Heroes During Uttarakhand Floods Rescue Operations
Indian Army's Search and Rescue Dogs Shine in Uttarakhand Disaster
In the aftermath of the devastating floods and landslides in Dharali, Uttarakhand, six Indian Army Search and Rescue (SAR) dogs and their handlers emerged as the unsung heroes. These specially trained Labradors, named Sara, Opana, Jansi, Hazel, June, and Rahi, played a critical role in locating survivors buried under rubble and mud.
The Role of SAR Dogs in Disaster Response
These canine units are instrumental in disaster zones, where they use their keen olfactory senses to detect human scent in collapsed structures or debris. Their search capability often surpasses that of multiple soldiers with advanced equipment, making them invaluable in time-sensitive rescue missions.
Training the Canine Units
The dogs undergo rigorous training at the Indian Army’s Remount Veterinary Corps (RVC) Centre and College, learning obedience, scent detection, tracking in difficult terrains, and acclimatization to combat-like conditions. After training, they and their handlers continuously maintain physical fitness and skills through regular drills and exercises.
The Dharali Operations
Following the August 2025 cloudburst, these dogs were deployed from bases including Meerut and Dehradun. They worked tirelessly in treacherous conditions, sniffing through mud and debris, locating potential survivors buried deep beneath unstable rubble. Their ability to detect human scent up to 18 feet beneath the ground helped rescuers identify precise digging locations, improving the chances of saving lives during the critical first hours after the disaster.
Past Achievements and Future Prospects
Sara, Opana, and Jansi have already participated in multiple Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Response (HADR) operations. Dog Rahi was rushed from Dehradun, but landslides blocked the route 60 km short of Harsil. Army dogs Sara, Opana, Jansi, and Hazel were airlifted to Harsil on August 7th. The Central Command ordered rapid deployment of additional SAR dogs in response to the disaster in Harsil. Army dog June and handler ADT Ghevarlal D Patel were among the first responders in Harsil since May.
The Indian Army considers these dogs as their most trusted allies in humanitarian disaster response. Despite their youth, these dogs have proven their worth time and again, navigating through difficult terrains, landslide rubble, and torrential rain to save lives where technology and human efforts often fall short.
In disaster-stricken areas, such as the one in Dharali, Uttarakhand, SAR dogs play a crucial role, using their olfactory senses to detect human scent in collapsed structures or debris and helping locate survivors buried under rubble and mud. The Indian Army's SAR dogs, like Sara, Opana, and Jansi, have demonstrated remarkable skills in time-sensitive rescue missions, often surpassing the search capability of multiple soldiers with advanced equipment.
