Jignesh Sadashiv Khandalkar collapsed on a trail at Rajgad Fort on Saturday, 28 September 2026, after a sudden heart attack. He had been trekking alone with his pet dog when fatigue set in and the attack struck.
The rescue teams reached the spot minutes later, but the dog's reaction was unmistakable: it refused to leave the stretcher and stayed beside it for the entire descent.
Witnesses – tourists and local trekkers – watched in stunned silence, many shedding tears at the animal’s unwavering devotion. The scene was captured in several photographs that went viral on social media.
Local authorities said they are reviewing emergency response procedures at Rajgad Fort, citing the incident as a wake‑up call for better medical preparedness on trekking routes.
The incident has highlighted the deep bond between humans and dogs, a fact that has resonated across India’s trekking communities.