Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Kangra on Tuesday to review the flood-hit areas of Himachal Pradesh and meet survivors of the destructive monsoon rains.
Among them was one-year-old Nitika, who has become the face of this year’s tragedy after losing her entire family in a cloudburst in Mandi district.
Nitika, then just 11 months old when the tragedy struck, lost her father Ramesh Kumar (31), mother Radha Devi (24), and grandmother Poonam Devi (59) on June 30 when a massive landslide struck Talwara village in the Gohar area. The three were swept away when they were trying to divert slush away from their residence, unaware of the cloudburst in the mountains above.
Miraculously, Nitika, who was asleep in the kitchen, the only part of the house left untouched, survived without injury.
Now nearly 14 months old, Nitika has been declared a “child of the state” by the Himachal Pradesh government, which has promised to take care of her education and living expenses. She is currently being looked after by her paternal aunt, Kirna Devi.
After the tragedy, a photograph of Nitika in the arms of Sub-Divisional Magistrate Samritika Negi went viral, leading to hundreds of adoption requests from across the country.
Besides Nitika, Modi also met 20 other survivors who lost their families and property to the heavy monsoon rains that have battered the state since June 20.
On his arrival at Gaggal Airport, PM Modi was welcomed by Governor Shiv Pratap Shukla, Chief Minister Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu, and Deputy CM Mukesh Agnihotri. He is expected to hold a high-level meeting with Chief Minister Thakur Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and senior officials, where he will be given a detailed presentation on the losses.
According to estimates, Himachal Pradesh has suffered damages of over Rs 4,500 crore. So far, 370 people have died, and 41 remain missing. The Public Works Department has reported major damage to roads and bridges.
Since the monsoon began, the state has recorded 136 landslides, 95 flash floods, and 45 cloudbursts, leaving widespread destruction to public and private property.
At present, 615 roads, including four national highways, are still blocked. In addition, 1,748 electricity transformers and 461 water supply schemes remain out of service.
Also Read: Help pours in for little survivor of Mandi tragedy
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