Leaping Across Fear: Kamla Devi’s Daring Mission To Save A Newborn

In the rain-lashed valleys of Himachal Pradesh’s Mandi district, where swollen streams cut off entire villages from the outside world, one woman turned her duty into an act of extraordinary courage. Her name is Kamla Devi, a 40-year-old health worker, and her mission was simple yet life-saving: ensure that a newborn baby received timely vaccination.

The journey to that baby, however, was anything but simple. Last week, as monsoon rains battered the region, roads crumbled and bridges washed away, leaving villages in Chauharghati nearly inaccessible. Most would have turned back, but Kamla Devi pressed on. When she reached a point where a raging stream blocked her way, she did not hesitate. With her medical kit strapped securely on her back and shoes in one hand, she leapt across boulders above the torrent to reach the baby waiting on the other side.

The moment was caught on video, and it quickly went viral. It showed not just a health worker navigating a dangerous path, but a frontline hero carrying duty and compassion on her shoulders. “I was worried about the baby,” Kamla Devi later told The Indian Express. “The mother couldn’t come because of the weather, so I decided I should go to them.” Her words were simple, but her actions resonated across the country. Public response was swift and emotional. Social media lit up with praise, calling her a true hero and a symbol of selfless service. One user wrote, “This is what dedication looks like.” Others, while admiring her bravery, pointed out the risks—urging that no health worker should have to gamble with their life just to do their job.

Medical authorities, too, walked the fine line between applause and caution. Mandi’s Chief Medical Officer, Dr Deepali Sharma, acknowledged Kamla’s act as “courageous” but added that such risks must be avoided. She promised to look into alternatives to ensure health workers can perform their duties safely in disaster-hit areas. The context is crucial. Himachal Pradesh has been devastated this monsoon by flash floods, landslides, and collapsing infrastructure. Villages like Chauharghati are often the hardest to reach even in fair weather; during the rains, they turn into islands of isolation.

For families there, access to timely healthcare becomes a matter of life and death. That is why Kamla Devi’s leap across the torrent means more than just a viral clip. It is both a celebration of human determination and a stark reminder of systemic gaps. Heroes like Kamla are forced to take such risks because safe bridges and reliable infrastructure are missing. Her story shines a light on the resilience of India’s frontline workers—but also on the urgent need for governments to ensure they don’t have to be daredevils to do their jobs. In the end, the baby got vaccinated. And Kamla Devi became a symbol of courage in action, an everyday health worker whose extraordinary leap carried the weight of both hope and responsibility.