Man Missing Since 2018 Reunited with Family in Kolkata After 7-Year Ordeal
A man from Baroda who disappeared in August 2018 after stepping out to buy milk finally reunited with his family in Kolkata on Monday evening. This emotional reunion concluded a nearly seven-year search that spanned hundreds of kilometres.
A Search That Turned to Despair
In August 2018, Amol Chandrakant Khiste, then 36 years old, left his home in Baroda with one hundred rupees to purchase milk. He never returned. His family launched an extensive search that continued for months without success.
According to his father, Chandrakant Dattatraya Khiste, his son had struggled with mental health issues since his school days and was on medication. Khiste had previously worked in Dubai but returned due to his condition.
"Earlier, when he left home, we could find him in a few days," the father recounted. "This time, when we couldn't, we gradually lost hope. His mother passed away and I lost all interest in business and other activities."
Tragically, his mother died within a year of his disappearance, never knowing her son was alive. The government eventually declared him civilly dead.
Years of Wandering and Discovery
Khiste later recounted his story in fragments, which counsellors painstakingly assembled. He boarded a train to Mumbai and drifted from city to city, mostly living on the streets. During the Covid-19 pandemic, he reached Kolkata, continuing to wander from place to place.
In 2023, Barasat Police Station found him. Recognizing his need for care and rehabilitation, they admitted him to Pavlov Hospital. He remained under supervision there for several months. During this initial period, as he was not speaking at all, hospital staff named him Hrishabh.
The Path to Recovery and Reunion
Doctors later shifted him to Pratyay Half Way Home, a government-run facility for patients transitioning back to society from Pavlov and Lumbini Park Mental Hospital. He had recovered but was not yet ready to live independently.
In January of this year, the NGO Iswar Sankalpa took over his case. Through dedicated counselling, their team gradually pieced together his past.
Sarbani Das, secretary of Iswar Sankalpa, explained the process. "Through counselling, counsellors gradually pieced together his past," she said. Eventually, Khiste recalled his address in Gujarat and details about his family.
This single recollection proved crucial. Earlier this month, when counsellors asked his name, the answer came haltingly but clearly. That moment set the reunion in motion.
A Long-Awaited Embrace
On Monday evening, his father and a cousin arrived at Pratyay Half Way Home in Kolkata. Khiste recognized them immediately. The reunion marked the successful conclusion of a case that stretched nearly seven years.
Doctors at Pavlov Hospital and counsellors at NGO Iswar Sankalpa played a significant role in this heartwarming outcome. Their persistent efforts helped bridge the gap between a lost man and his grieving family.
This story highlights the critical importance of mental health support systems and the dedicated work of healthcare professionals and NGOs in restoring lives.
