Munish Sood
MANDI: On a stormy night in the remote Talwara village of Mandi district in Himachal Prdesh, the heavens opened in fury. A sudden cloudburst triggered catastrophic flashfloods, burying homes and families under a wave of mud and debris. As the waters receded and the devastation came to light, rescue teams stumbled upon an unimaginable sight: a baby girl, barely 11 months old, alive.
Her name is Nikita. And on that night, she lost everything — her mother, father and grandmother were swept away and never found again.
Yet, amidst the tragedy, something extraordinary happened. A community, a district, and eventually an entire nation rallied around her.
Bureaucrat’s embrace that moved millions
Nikita’s story began making headlines after Balh Sub-Divisional Magistrate Smritika Negi cradled the baby in her arms during a site inspection. The poignant moment was captured on video. That clip went viral across social media platforms, drawing tears, outrage and an outpouring of empathy.
It was Smritika Negi who not only offered emotional support but also took administrative initiative —opening a bank account in Nikita’s name to facilitate transparent public contributions for her care and future. That viral moment didn’t just make Nikita a face of tragedy, but launched her journey into the collective conscience of a society.
On June 30, Nikita’s parents were attempting to clear a clogged drain behind their home as floodwaters rose. Neither of them returned. Only their infant daughter survived — miraculously unharmed.
With no parents left, it were her paternal aunts — Kirna Devi and Tara Devi — who stepped forward to raise her. “She’s our blood,” said Kirna Devi. “We will raise her like our own daughter. We cannot hand her to strangers, no matter how kind their intentions.”
That sentiment echoed across Talwara village. In a powerful display of unity and empathy, villagers offered help of every kind — from clothes, food and baby supplies to pledges for her schooling and healthcare. Even as offers for adoption came in from across India and overseas, the family decided to keep Nikita with them.
The video of SDM Smritika Negi holding Nikita reached all corners of the internet. Civil society groups, diaspora organisations and citizens began reaching out. Within days, the bank account opened in her name saw contributions flood in — over ₹25,000 collected in the first few days alone, and growing steadily.
Former Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur visited Nikita personally and shared a heartfelt message: “She hasn’t even learned to say ‘mother’ and yet she will never know hers. She will never hold her father’s finger to take her first steps. But she is not alone. Nikita is now the daughter of Seraj — and we all will stand by her.”
