Ten-month-old Neetika, the lone survivor of a devastating cloudburst and flash flood in Mandi district, Himachal Pradesh, will be raised by her paternal aunt, Kirna Devi, after losing her parents and grandmother on the night of June 30-July 1. Neetika’s father, Ramesh, was found among the debris, while her mother, Radha, and grandmother remain missing.
Although the family received widespread offers of adoption from across India and abroad, they unanimously decided she should stay among her blood relatives. Kirna Devi, who lives in nearby Shakauri village and already has a son, will raise Neetika as her own daughter.
Local authorities have opened bank accounts in Neetika’s name, with initial donations of ₹25,000, and pledged free education. The state government, community, and political leaders including former CM Jai Ram Thakur have stepped forward to offer long-term support for her care.
Rescue efforts are ongoing in the district, which saw multiple cloudbursts affecting 10 panchayats. The tragedy claimed around 15 lives and left over two dozen missing. Neetika’s story has moved heart across the nation a testament to familial love and communal solidarity in the face of disaster.
