Lost at Fair, Found After 20 Years in Bangladesh: Radhika’s Incredible Journey Back Home

Kolkata: Almost two decades ago, Radhika, a woman from Madhya Pradesh, went missing at the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal. After years of separation from her family, she has now been traced in Bangladesh and is expected to return to India soon. Her story reads like a Manmohan Desai film, full of twists, loss, and eventual hope.

The Breakthrough:
The credit for locating Radhika goes to West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC), where amateur radio operators have tirelessly worked to reunite missing people with their families. WBRC Secretary Ambrish Nag Viswas revealed that their contacts in Bangladesh reported an elderly woman begging on the streets, who only uttered a single word when asked about her husband: “Sagar.” This word became the key to unlocking the decades-old mystery.

Tracing the Clues:
Initially, the WBRC team suspected she might be from Sagar Island, West Bengal, but when that lead went cold, they expanded their search nationwide. Eventually, they traced her back to Khajra village in Sagar district, Madhya Pradesh, confirming she was the woman who had gone missing nearly 20 years ago from Gangasagar Mela.

How She Ended Up in Bangladesh:
Investigations suggest that Radhika had joined a group of pilgrims visiting Gangasagar Mela but got separated in the massive crowd. Unknowingly, she boarded a boat with another group from Bangladesh, likely traveling through informal or illegal channels. Left without support, she had been living by begging for survival.

Family Background:
At the time of her disappearance, Radhika was married to Baliram and had three sons—Puran, Rajesh, and Ganesh. Her husband Baliram and son Puran have passed away. Rajesh and Ganesh now live and work in Delhi. Decades of hardship on the streets had drastically changed Radhika’s appearance, making identification difficult. With WBRC’s help, she received clean clothes and personal care, and her son Rajesh immediately recognized her from the updated photos. Overcome with emotion, he said, “My mother’s return is more sacred than any pilgrimage. I will see the face of God in her.”

Return to India:
WBRC has informed the Gangasagar Mela authorities, the Bangladesh High Commission, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs. All agencies have assured full support for Radhika’s safe return. It is expected that Radhika will soon be reunited with her family in India, ending a 20-year saga of separation and survival.