Mandi: On the night of June 30, 2025, a deadly flash flood devastated the village of Talwara in the Mandi district of Himachal Pradesh, leaving behind shattered lives and broken hearts. That night, 11-month-old Nikita lost her entire world when her father, Ramesh, a 31-year-old farmer, was swept away by fierce waters, whose body was discovered the following morning, in the debris of the flash flood. Her mother (24), Radha, and her grandmother, Purnu (59), a peon at the village school, all went missing in the floods.
However, the villagers of Talwara, whose compassion became apparent, embraced Nikita with the same warmth as the love of a family.
It was their neighbor, Prem Singh, who heard Nikita’s cries the next morning. Alone, frightened, and untouched by the raging flood that destroyed her home, the infant was found still lying in her cradle. Prem carried her to safety and brought her to Ramesh’s cousin, Balwant. From there, her aunts, Tara Devi and Kirna Devi embraced her, literally and emotionally.
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The Mandi district administration has provided ₹25,000 as immediate assistance and opened a bank account in Nikita’s name. Government compensation and public donations are being deposited as fixed savings to support her till adulthood. A local NGO has promised to fund her education, and nearby schools have also offered free admission.
Former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur visited the family last week, met Nikita and her caretakers. He announced ₹50,000 in personal support and requested her inclusion in government schemes for orphaned children.
While many homes in Talwara stand damaged and families struggle to recover, the story of Nikita has brought the village together in an unexpected way. She turns one next month, unaware of the storm that changed her life. But in a village that refuses to let her go, she is no longer alone.
