Tragic Cloudburst in Himachal Pradesh Leaves Toddler Orphaned

Devastating Incident in Talwara Village

In Talwara village, located in the Mandi district, a cloudburst has led to a heartbreaking situation for a ten-month-old girl named Nitika, who has lost three family members, leaving her as the likely sole survivor.

On Tuesday, as the cloudburst struck, Nitika's 31-year-old father, Ramesh Kumar, was attempting to prevent water from flooding their home when disaster struck. His body was later recovered from the debris.

Nitika's mother, Radha Devi, aged 24, and her grandmother, Purnu Devi, 59, went out searching for Ramesh but have not yet been located.

A neighbor, Prem Singh, found the crying child alone and took her to Ramesh's cousin, Balwant, who serves as a personal security officer for former Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur.

Balwant confirmed to a news agency that they are currently caring for the child.

He mentioned that the sub-divisional magistrate has proposed to open a bank account in Nitika's name, which is set to be established soon. Balwant added that many people have reached out to offer assistance after hearing about this tragedy.

The areas most affected by the cloudburst include Pawara, Thunag, Baidshad, Kanda, and Murad, all of which have suffered significant damage, impacting roads, water supply, and electricity infrastructure.

Authorities reported that the cloudburst, along with sudden floods and landslides, has resulted in fourteen fatalities in Mandi district, with search operations ongoing for 31 missing individuals.

Balwant also shared that Ramesh had lost his father when he was just six months old.

Ramesh was a farmer with limited income, relying on Purnu Devi's salary to support the household. Purnu, who worked as a peon in a government school, was set to retire in seven months.

To assist with Nitika's care, her relatives have been provided with a relief amount of 25,000 rupees.