PM Modi Meets 10-Month-Old Neetika Orphaned In Himachal Pradesh Floods, Photo Goes Viral

(MENAFN- Live Mint) Himachal Pradesh floods: During his visit to flood ravaged Himachal Pradesh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met families affected by the calamity. He expressed condolences and deep sorrow to those who lost their relatives.

A photograph of the prime minister holding 10-month-old Neetika, the lone survivor in her family, has also gone viral on the internet.

On Tuesday, PM Modi carried out an aerial survey of Himachal Pradesh's worst flood-hit region – Mandi and Kullu – which have been devastated by floods, landslides and incessant rains.

Who is Neetika?

Hailing from Himachal Pradesh's Mandi district,10-month-old Neetika was orphaned after she lost her parents and grandmother in a cloudburst that struck the Talwara village on the intervening night of June 30 and July 1.

Also Read | PM Modi announces ₹1,600 crore relief for flood-hit Punjab

Neetik's father, Ramesh, 31, died, while her mother, Radha Devi, 24, and grandmother, Purnu Devi, 59, are still missing, reported PTI.

Centre stands shoulder to shoulder with affected people: PM Narendra Modi as he visits flood-hit Punjab, Himachal

Ramesh had stepped out to divert the flow of water entering the house, while his wife and mother followed to help. They did not return.

What is 'child of the state'

Following the tragedy,10-month-old Neetika was declared a“child of the state” under the Sukh-Aashray Yojana of the Himachal Pradesh government, a senior official said.

'Child of the state,' means that the government responsible for the child's care and protection.

Also Read | AAP govt seeks ₹20,000 cr relief package ahead of PM's visit to Punjab

“The state government takes full responsibility of the little girl's upbringing, education and future as part of a long-term plan. Whatever this girl wants to become in the future, a doctor, an engineer or an officer, the government will bear all expenses,” Revenue Minister Jagat Singh Negi told PTI Videos.

Sukh-Ashray scheme

The Sukh-Ashray scheme - launched in 2023 - includes providing food, shelter, clothing, higher education, and skill development to unmarried orphans between 18 and 27 years of age who have no place to live and are unemployed.

Also Read | Yamuna flows above DANGER mark, floodwater enters Civil Lines, Kashmere Gate

On the fateful night when Neetika lost her parents, she was found crying alone in the house by neighbour Prem Singh – who immediately alerted the baby's relative Balwant – who is a personal security officer to former chief minister and Leader of the Opposition, Jai Ram Thakur.

Himachal Pradesh floods

• Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday announced an immediate relief of ₹1,500 crore for rain-affected Himachal Pradesh.
• As of Tuesday morning, 619 roads, including four national highways, were closed in the state and 1748 power transformers and 461 water supply schemes were disrupted.
• Himachal Pradesh has suffered losses estimated at ₹4,122 crore from cloudbursts, flash floods, and landslides triggered by heavy rains between June 20 and September 8. According to the State Emergency Operation Centre, 370 people have lost their lives in rain-related incidents and road accidents during this period.

(with agency inputs)

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