Orphaned in Himachal floods, baby Nikita to be raised by aunt as community steps in

Nikita’s father, Ramesh Kumar (31), had rushed out to divert floodwaters surging into their home. His body was later found in the debris nearby.

When flash floods triggered by a cloudburst ravaged Talwara village in Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district on the night of June 30, 11-month-old Nikita was left alone after her parents and grandmother were swept away. What followed was an outpouring of compassion from her community and a family’s resolve to keep her with them.

Nikita’s father, Ramesh Kumar (31), had rushed out to divert floodwaters surging into their home. His body was later found in the debris nearby. Her mother, Radha Devi (24) and grandmother, Poornu Devi (59), remain missing, presumed dead, as per a TOI report.

The infant was discovered crying by neighbour Prem Singh, who alerted relatives, including Ramesh’s cousin Balwant, a security officer for former CM Jai Ram Thakur. Nikita’s aunts, Tara Devi and Kirna Devi, immediately took her in.

As news of the tragedy spread, the family was inundated with adoption requests, even from abroad. But after performing the last rites on Sunday, the relatives unanimously decided Nikita would stay with Kirna Devi, her paternal aunt, TOI reported.

"Nikita is our blood and we couldn’t possibly give her to anyone outside the family. I will raise her like my own," Kirna was quoted by TOI as saying, explaining her home in Shakauri village, 20 km from Talwara, offered better educational opportunities. Kirna’s husband, Aantraran Singh, added, "Me and my wife already wanted Nikita to be with us," TOI reported.

The community’s support didn’t end there. Schools have reportedly offered free admission for Nikita, who turns one on August 14, while two bank accounts were opened in her name for donations, funds she can access at 18. Opposition leader Jai Ram Thakur, who visited Nikita, urged the state to enrol her in the CM’s Sukh Aashray Yojana, a scheme for orphaned children, PTI reported.