How did PM Modi respond to the tragedy of infant Neetika orphaned in Himachal's cloudburst?

Kangra (Himachal Pradesh), Sep 9 (NationPress) Deeply touched by the situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday interacted with 11-month-old Neetika, the sole survivor of her family following the devastating Himachal floods, gently caressing her face.

The innocent child gazed back, oblivious to the profound loss she bore — her parents and grandmother swept away during the night when the torrential waters surged.

Neetika was peacefully sleeping in her crib when the catastrophe struck in July. While her parents and grandmother bravely ventured out to confront the flood, they tragically never returned. Remarkably, the baby remained unharmed, as if the chaos had paused at her side. Now being cared for by relatives, Neetika has emerged as more than just a survivor.

She embodies both destruction and hope — the child untouched by the floods, representing a tragedy that mere numbers cannot convey.

During his visit to Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Modi met Neetika, whose aunt was presented with sweets by the Prime Minister, in the presence of Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu, and Leader of Opposition Jairam Thakur, along with other survivors from various natural disasters reported in the state since July.

This little girl, now under the guardianship of her relatives, stands as the only living member of her family after the calamity that devastated the hill state, displacing hundreds and leaving tourists stranded.

Her presence, delicate yet resilient, has come to symbolize both the catastrophe and the miracle of survival.

In Himachal Pradesh, she represents a tragedy that statistics alone fail to capture. Neetika’s narrow escape occurred on the night of June 30 and July 1, when a flash flood triggered by a cloudburst struck Talwara village in the Gohar sub-division of Mandi district.

Prime Minister Modi visited the flood-stricken areas of Punjab and Himachal Pradesh to assess the ongoing disaster management and rehabilitation efforts after the severe monsoon-induced floods and landslides wreaked havoc across northern India.

After engaging with survivors and state officials led by Chief Secretary Prabodh Saxena, who provided a comprehensive overview of the destruction caused by the monsoon, the Prime Minister gained insight into the severity of the situation.

According to official reports, there have been 136 landslides, 95 flash floods, and 45 cloudbursts resulting in immense damage to both public infrastructure and private properties since the monsoon season commenced on June 20.

Currently, 615 roads remain closed, including four national highways, while 1,748 electricity transformers and 461 water supply schemes have been affected.

In addition to interacting with flood victims, the Prime Minister also engaged with the National Disaster Response Force (NDRF), the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF), and the Aapda Mitra team at Gaggal airport, near Kangra town.

“I conducted an aerial survey to evaluate the damage caused by flooding and landslides in Himachal Pradesh. We stand united with the people during this challenging time, and all possible measures are being taken to provide ongoing support to those impacted,” the Prime Minister shared on X.

Neetika, the youngest survivor, lost her parents, Ramesh Kumar, 31, and Radha Devi, 24, along with her grandmother Poonam Devi, 59, who were all swept away by a landslide.

The body of her father was discovered near their home, while her mother and grandmother remain missing.

A touching photo of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Samritika Negi holding Neetika has gone viral, resonating with hearts across the nation.

The child is being raised by her aunt Kirna Devi, who lives in the same village where the tragedy occurred. She brought Neetika to meet the Prime Minister.

Neetika has been recognized as a “child of the state,” which means that the government has committed to fully support her upbringing, education, and future career.

An official source revealed to IANS that at the Gaggal airport, the Prime Minister met 21 other survivors of landslides and flash floods. Prior to this, PM Modi conducted an aerial assessment of Mandi, Kullu, and Chamba, the most severely impacted districts.

Neetika belongs to the Seraj Assembly constituency represented by BJP leader Jairam Thakur, who played a pivotal role in assisting the Prime Minister’s Office in compiling the list of survivors.

Among the other survivors present were Mukesh from Thunag village in Mandi district, who tragically lost all his family members, including parents, wife, and child. Others include Inder Singh from Nachan, who lost his wife and three daughters in a landslide, and Krishna from Mandi town, who mourned the loss of two sons, a daughter-in-law, and a grandson.

Just before the Prime Minister’s visit, a significant landslide occurred in Sharmani village in Kullu’s Nirmand, resulting in one fatality while three were rescued.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Sukhu stated that the state has incurred losses exceeding Rs 4,500 crore, with extensive damage to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) roads, alongside significant impacts on state roads.

Devastating images of landslides demolishing several multi-story buildings and countless individuals being evacuated, along with rescuers searching for those feared missing in the northern Himalayan state, became tragically common during the calamity in July, August, and September, which claimed 371 lives, left 41 missing, and caused extensive infrastructural damage throughout the state.

(Vishal Gulati can be contacted at vishal.g@ians.in)