Mandi’s miracle baby: How 11-month-old survived deadly Himachal flash flood that killed her family

Dubai: In the dead of night, as torrential rains battered the hills of Himachal Pradesh, a sudden landslide swept through the quiet village of Talwara in Mandi district, claiming three lives from a single household — a father, a mother and a grandmother, Indian media reports said.

But miraculously, one tiny life was spared: 11-month-old Nikita, asleep and unaware, survived the fury that tore her family apart.

It was around 1am on June 30, in the Seraj Assembly constituency, when the skies opened up with cloudbursts that triggered deadly flash floods and landslides across several villages.

Nikita’s parents — Ramesh Kumar and Radha Devi — along with her grandmother Poonam Devi, stepped outside their home in the pouring rain to try and divert water that had begun flooding their house. It was a desperate act of protection. Within moments, a landslide struck, sweeping all three away.

Inside, baby Nikita remained in her bed — untouched by the destruction outside.

Cries pierce silence

At dawn, the villagers heard a baby crying. The persistent wails led them to the house, now partially damaged, where they found Nikita alone. Her cries pierced the silence of a village coming to grips with what had just happened.

The body of Nikita’s father was recovered later, buried beneath layers of mud and debris. Her mother and grandmother remain missing. State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) personnel continue search operations in treacherous terrain, risking their lives as rainfall continues to threaten the region.

A photo of Sub-Divisional Magistrate (SDM) Samritika Negi holding Nikita in her arms has gone viral, capturing hearts across India.

SDM Negi confirmed to IANS that the child is now in the care of her father's cousins, who live in the same village. “She has adjusted well with the family,” said Negi. “We have provided them with Rs25,000 ex-gratia and essential ration kits.”

But the concern for Nikita’s future has not stopped there.

“We have received over 100 calls from across the country asking about the baby’s well-being,” SDM Negi said. “Many have offered financial assistance.” In response, the Deputy Commissioner of Mandi will soon open a bank account in Nikita’s name, with himself as her legal guardian.

“All government compensation and donor contributions will be deposited as fixed deposits to secure her education and future,” Negi added. The final disbursal process will begin after the family completes the traditional mourning rituals (kriya) for her father.

The government of Himachal Pradesh provides Rs 4 lakh compensation for any death caused by natural disasters in the state — applicable to all, regardless of residency or nationality.

This single family’s loss, though particularly heartbreaking, is just one of many across the flood-hit state.

78 dead

Himachal Pradesh is reeling under widespread monsoon devastation. Official figures confirm 78 deaths, with 30 more still missing, mostly from remote villages like Thunag and Parwada panchayat. The economic toll is staggering — nearly Rs700 crore in damage, hundreds of roads blocked, and crucial infrastructure wrecked.

Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu has announced a range of relief measures, including monthly rent support for displaced families. The central government has also stepped in — Union Home Minister Amit Shah has pledged full assistance, and a Central team is expected to assess the damage soon.

Meanwhile, joint teams of NDRF and SDRF continue rescue and recovery efforts, supported by the Indian Air Force, which has deployed two Mi-17 V5 helicopters for airlifting aid and evacuating stranded residents.

But amid the wreckage and loss, the story of baby Nikita offers a rare glimmer of hope — a quiet miracle that has moved a nation and reminded many of the fragile but precious gift of life.