Flood of courage: 2 students emerge as heroes in Thunag flashfloods
As floodwaters swallowed an entire town, Sahil and Ronid defied death to rescue lives — including their lecturer’s family — in Himachal’s worst natural disaster this year.
In the wake of one of the deadliest natural disasters to strike the Seraj valley in Mandi, two students from Thunag Horticulture and Forestry College — Sahil Thakur of Kash village (Sarkaghat, Mandi) and Ronid from Sirmaur — emerged as unassuming heroes. Amid panic and rising floodwaters, the duo saved multiple lives, including that of their college lecturer and her family, when a catastrophic flash flood ravaged Thunag on the night of June 30.
The night disaster struck
The tragedy began with a cloudburst near Dezi village, roughly 8 km from Thunag. A sudden torrent of water and debris tore through the valley, submerging the Thunag market area within minutes. Over 150 students staying in the college hostel were trapped as the waters surged, destroying buildings and sweeping away anything in their path. “We couldn’t just watch people die,” recalled Sahil.
He and Ronid were alerted by their landlord just after dinner. Realising the gravity of the situation, they immediately began warning their fellow hostel-mates to flee to higher ground. From their rooftop, they watched in horror as helpless townspeople waved mobile flashlights from buildings, desperate for rescue.
Into the waters of death
With no regard for their own safety, Sahil and Ronid waded into neck-deep floodwaters, managing to rescue three to four people. But their most courageous act came when they spotted a faint light in the local court building. Inside were their college lecturer Kalpana Thakur, her husband and their young child, stranded as waters rose rapidly.
“Kalpana ma’am was holding her child above her head to keep him from drowning,” Sahil said. Fighting the current, the two students reached the building and brought the family to safety after a harrowing struggle. “We weren’t thinking of ourselves,” Sahil said. “All we could see were people drowning. How could we stand back and do nothing?”
Daybreak: A town in ruins
At dawn, the extent of destruction became heartbreakingly clear. Bodies floated in the water, and entire buildings had vanished. According to Sahil, “Not a single shop or home was left untouched. Some were submerged up to two floors.”
The college hostel and academic building were severely damaged, with lower floors eroded and access roads destroyed. Rescue operations were nearly impossible due to the transformed landscape — what was once a town was now a river.
Students demand relocation
Shaken and displaced, students are now demanding that the college be relocated to a safer area. Many families are hesitant to send their children back, fearing repeat disasters. They have requested that upcoming exams be conducted at Dr YS Parmar University, Nauni, instead.
A long, winding escape
With roads cut off, over 92 students trekked nearly 14 km on foot before they could be reached by administration vehicles near Kanda — the nearest accessible point. Some had already started walking home when help finally arrived, days later. As the district begins to count its losses and search for the missing, the selfless bravery of Sahil and Ronid offers a glimmer of hope. Their courage — born in the face of fear — reminds us that true heroism often emerges from the hearts of ordinary people in extraordinary times.
Himachal Tribune