In the rugged mountains of Himachal Pradesh, where swollen streams and landslides make travel perilous, a health worker from Mandi district has earned national recognition for her extraordinary courage.
The National Institute of Virology (NIV) honoured her after a striking photograph went viral, showing her leaping across boulders with a raging rivulet below, a vaccine box in hand, determined to reach families stranded by floods. Social media widely shared the image, symbolizing the resilience of Himachal’s frontline workers.
Officials said she continued her rounds on foot despite collapsed roads and snapped communication lines, ensuring no child missed vital vaccines. Villagers recall her arriving drenched but smiling, saying, “The work must not stop.”
Her recognition adds to a legacy of heroic health workers from Mandi, including Kamla Devi of Chohar Valley, recently felicitated by Serum Institute Chairman Dr. Cyrus Poonawalla, and Geeta Verma of Karsog, featured in WHO’s 2018 calendar for her daring vaccine delivery.
With this latest honour, Himachal’s mountain health warriors once again demonstrate that public service in these valleys is a calling, often undertaken against nature’s fiercest challenges.
Nurturing Creativity – Keekli Charitable Trust, Shimla
