Madhya Pradesh Woman Found In Bangladesh 20 Years After Going Missing At Bengal Fair

In a remarkable turn of events, an Indian woman from Madhya Pradesh, who went missing nearly 20 years ago during the Gangasagar Mela in West Bengal, has been located in Bangladesh. Efforts are currently underway to repatriate her and reunite her with her family.

Radhika, now around 70 years old, disappeared during a pilgrimage to Gangasagar Mela, a large gathering held annually in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Presumed lost, her family had long given up hope of finding her. The Gangasagar Mela is a major Hindu pilgrimage and fair held annually. It is held at Sagar Island in the Ganges delta, where the Ganges River meets the Bay of Bengal.

The "miracle" was made possible through the efforts of amateur radio operators from the West Bengal Radio Club (WBRC). The WBRC actively works to reunite missing individuals with their families using their extensive network. According to Ambarish Nag Biswas, secretary of WBRC, their contacts in Bangladesh informed them about a woman named Radhika, who was found begging on the streets.

Radhika had become separated from her pilgrimage group and inadvertently joined a group of pilgrims from Bangladesh. In those days, pilgrims from Bangladesh would travel clandestinely to Sagar Island by trawlers.

When questioned, Radhika couldn't initially recall her husband's name. Given the religious customs she followed, she wasn't supposed to utter her husband’s name. The WBRC then broadened their search, checking for places named "Sagar" within India and discovered information about a woman from Khajra village in the Sagar district of Madhya Pradesh who had gone missing during the Gangasagar Mela.

Radhika had a husband, Baliram, and three sons when she was lost. Sadly, her husband and one son, Puran, have since passed away. Her other sons, Rajesh and Ganesh, currently live and work in Delhi.

According to Nag Biswas, Radhika’s appearance had changed drastically over the years, marked by age, dust, and grime from living on the streets. The WBRC arranged for her to visit a parlor for cleaning and new clothes. When Rajesh, her son, was sent the latest photographs, he immediately recognized his mother. Overjoyed at the discovery, Rajesh said that his mother's return would be nothing short of a pilgrimage for him, stating he would be "seeing God in her".

The WBRC has notified officials from the Gangasagar Mela, who have assured their full cooperation. The Bangladesh High Commission and the Ministry of External Affairs have also been informed and have pledged their assistance.

Radhika’s story echoes other recent cases of Indian women being discovered in neighboring countries after long periods of separation. In December 2024, Hamida Banu, an Indian-origin woman, returned from Pakistan after 22 years, aided by a YouTube video that her grandson recognized. Similarly, in October 2025, Sakina Begum, an Indian Muslim woman who had gone missing from Assam, was found in Bangladesh. These incidents highlight the challenges faced by vulnerable individuals and the role of social media and dedicated organizations in reuniting families across borders.

As Radhika's return to her family nears, her story offers a beacon of hope and underscores the importance of cross-border cooperation in humanitarian efforts.