A devastating cloudburst in the Talwara village of Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, has resulted in a heart-wrenching tragedy for one family, leaving a ten-month-old baby girl, Neetika, as likely the sole survivor. The event, which occurred earlier this week, has prompted an outpouring of support for the infant while rescue teams continue to search for her missing mother and grandmother.
The infant's father, 31-year-old Ramesh Kumar, was attempting to divert floodwater away from their home when the cloudburst struck. His body was later found in the debris. In a desperate search for Ramesh, Neetika's mother, 24-year-old Radha Devi, and grandmother, 59-year-old Purnu Devi, ventured out but have not yet been found.
Amidst the devastation, a neighbor, Prem Singh, discovered Neetika crying alone amidst the rubble. He immediately took her to Ramesh's cousin, Balwant, who is a personal security officer for former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. Balwant has confirmed that the baby is safe and in their care.
The local authorities are stepping in to provide assistance to Neetika. The sub-divisional magistrate has offered to open a bank account in her name, with many people already coming forward to offer help after hearing about the tragedy. An ex gratia amount of ₹25,000 has already been provided to Neetika's relatives for her immediate expenses.
Talwara village is among the areas most affected by the cloudburst, with widespread destruction also reported in Pawara, Thunag, Baidshad, Kanda, and Murad. Roads, water lines, and power infrastructure in these panchayats have suffered extensive damage. Across Mandi district, fourteen people have died in ten separate incidents of cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides, and rescue teams are still searching for 31 missing individuals.
Adding to the tragedy, it has been revealed that Ramesh Kumar also lost his father when he was just six months old. As a small-scale farmer, Ramesh relied significantly on his mother Purnu Devi's income, who worked as a peon at a government school and was due to retire in seven months.
The cloudburst in Mandi is part of a larger pattern of monsoon fury in Himachal Pradesh. Heavy rainfall has lashed most parts of the state, leading to flash flood warnings in several districts, including Shimla, Solan, and Hamirpur. The Meteorological Department has issued a red alert for very heavy rainfall in Mandi, Kangra, and Sirmaur districts. Two cloudbursts were reported in Mandi and Chamba districts. In Mandi, the cloudburst in Silbadhani village of Tikkkan Panchayat under Padhar sub-division caused a flash flood that washed away two small bridges.
In response to the widespread destruction, the Mandi administration has distributed food kits to affected families in disaster-hit areas. BJP MP Kangana Ranaut and former Chief Minister Jairam Thakur visited cloudburst-affected areas in Mandi to assess the damage and interact with affected residents. Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu is personally monitoring the relief operations and has assured full support from the state government to affected families. The government is also working to restore road connectivity, which has been severely affected, particularly in the Thunag area.
The story of Neetika is a stark reminder of the devastating impact of natural disasters on vulnerable communities. As rescue and relief efforts continue, the focus remains on providing support and ensuring a secure future for the young survivor. The sub-divisional magistrate has said that many people are offering to help the child.
