“Kindness costs nothing,” an old Irish proverb says. Even the smallest gesture can be life-changing for someone in need of help. Since the Internet is not just a place for awful things, but also for heartwarming and inspiring stories, it is no wonder this adorable snap of a caring police officer, sharing his umbrella with a couple of stray dogs, went viral!
The beautiful moment, caught on camera by an amateur photographer, was then shared online by the Kalkata Police Department, India, and the world has simply fallen in love. The now viral photo, shows the officer sheltering the two dogs, under his umbrella, during a massive rainfall. “The photo was taken today near Park Circus seven-point crossing, featuring on duty Constable Tarun Kumar Mandal of East Traffic Guard, and his unexpected companions,” the police department wrote in a Facebook post.
Tarun Kumar Mandal, officer with the Kalkata Police, was directing traffic in one of the city’s busiest crossing. The constable was sitting in the pouring rain, with an umbrella in his right hand, when all of a sudden two stray dogs, looking to shelter from the heavy rain, approached him. Apparently, the caring officer was more than happy to share his umbrella with the dogs. Thanks to his kindness, he’s now hailed as a hero all over the Internet.
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Amateur photographer, Sayan Chakraborty, was in the right place at the right time, to capture the inspiring moment on camera. The photo, initially shared on Facebook by the Kolkata Police, gained ten of thousands of reactions, with so many people showing their appreciation to the officer’s gesture of kindness.
“What a tough job!!” one person wrote. “On duty amidst rain when we are safely at our home, and protecting two innocent strays.” While another one added: “My Salute to areal life hero!”