15 years later, woman reunited with family after months long search

A 42 year old woman undergoing treatment at Nagpur’s Regional Mental Hospital was reunited with her family in Bihar after nearly 15 years, following months of efforts by hospital staff and police to trace her identity.

The woman, identified as Shital (name changed), was brought to the hospital by Wardha police on August 28, 2023, after she was found wandering and unable to identify herself.

She was admitted following court orders and placed under the care of psychiatrist Dr Pankaj Bagde.

According to Social Service Superintendent Kunda Katekhaye Bidkar, Shital initially spoke very little and remained withdrawn during treatment.

Although her condition gradually improved, she struggled to recall personal details.

She also had visible physical challenges including a cleft lip and a habit of repeatedly blinking her eyes.

Over several months, Bidkar continued trying to communicate with her.

Shital repeatedly expressed a desire to return home but could not clearly identify her family or address.

Through fragmented conversations, she mentioned a few names and possible locations.

Initial searches across multiple states yielded no results.

A breakthrough came when she later mentioned Bhawanipur in Saharsa district of Bihar.

Hospital authorities then contacted the Superintendent of Police in Supaul district, who assigned an officer to verify the information.

Police eventually traced her brother and confirmed her identity, ending a search that had lasted more than a year.

According to her family, Shital had left home about 15 years ago during a period of mental distress while carrying her eight month old baby.

Over time, relatives searched for her but eventually presumed she had died.

Her father passed away during those years.

Shital belongs to a large family with five brothers and four sisters, and her elderly mother had long hoped she would return.

Relatives said she had faced neglect at her in laws’ home after marriage because of her condition.

When Shital spoke to her family over the phone in December 2025, the reunion was emotional.

However, the family’s financial condition prevented them from travelling to Nagpur to bring her back.

After the Mental Health Review Board declared her “fit for discharge” on December 23, 2025, hospital authorities approached a Nagpur based charity, Maa Foundation, for assistance.

The organisation arranged travel tickets, food for the journey and basic necessities including clothes and luggage.

After completing legal formalities, a hospital team escorted Shital to Bihar.

Following nearly 50 hours of travel, she was reunited with her mother and brother in the presence of local police officials.

Hospital authorities said returning to a familiar family environment may help improve her emotional stability.

However, Shital has no memory of the eight month old child she had taken with her when she left home, and the circumstances of what happened to the child remain unknown.

Ankita Deshkar is a Deputy Copy Editor and a dedicated fact-checker at The Indian Express.

Based in Maharashtra, she specializes in bridging the gap between technical complexity and public understanding.

With a deep focus on Cyber Law, Information Technology, and Public Safety, she leads "The Safe Side" series, where she deconstructs emerging digital threats and financial scams.

Ankita is also a certified trainer for the Google News Initiative (GNI) India Training Network, specializing in online verification and the fight against misinformation.

She is also an AI trainer with ADiRA (AI for Digital Readiness and Advancement)
Professional Background & Expertise
Role: Fact-checker & Deputy Copy Editor, The Indian Express
Experience: Started working in 2016
Ankita brings a unique multidisciplinary background to her journalism, combining engineering logic with mass communication expertise.

Her work often intersects regional governance, wildlife conservation, and digital rights, making her a leading voice on issues affecting Central India, particularly the Vidarbha region.

Key focus areas include:
Fact-Checking & Verification: As a GNI-certified trainer, she conducts workshops on debunking deepfakes, verifying viral claims, and using OSINT (Open Source Intelligence) tools.

Cyber Law & IT: With postgraduate specialization in Cyber Law, she decodes the legalities of data privacy, digital fraud, and the evolving landscape of intellectual property rights.

Public Safety & Health: Through her "The Safe Side" column, she provides actionable intelligence on avoiding "juice jacking," "e-SIM scams," and digital extortion.

Regional Reporting: She provides on-ground coverage of high-stakes issues in Maharashtra, from Maoist surrenders in Gadchiroli to critical healthcare updates and wildlife-human conflict in Nagpur.

Education & Credentials
Ankita is currently pursuing her PhD in Mass Communication and Journalism, focusing on the non-verbal communication through Indian classical dance forms.

Her academic foundation includes:
MA in Mass Communication (RTM Nagpur University)
Bachelors in Electrical Engineering (RTM Nagpur University)
Post Graduate Diploma (PGTD) in Cyber Law and Information Technology
Specialization in Intellectual Property Rights
Recent Notable Coverage
Ankita’s reportage is recognized for its investigative depth and emphasis on accountability:
Cyber Security: "Lost money to a scam?

Act within the 'golden hour' or risk losing it all" — A deep dive into the critical window for freezing fraudulent transactions.

Public Health: "From deep coma to recovery: First fully recovered Coldrif patient discharged" — Investigating the aftermath of pharmaceutical toxins and the healthcare response.

Governance & Conflict: "Gadchiroli now looks like any normal city: SP Neelotpal" — An analysis of the socio-political shift in Maoist-affected regions.

Signature Beat
Ankita is best known for her ability to translate "technical jargon into human stories." Whether she is explaining how AI tools like MahaCrimeOS assist the police or exposing the dire conditions of wildlife transit centres, her writing serves as a bridge between specialized knowledge and everyday safety.

Contact & Follow
X (Twitter): @ankita_deshkar
Email: ankita.deshkar@indianexpress.com...

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