Missing for 35 years, Odisha woman finally reunites with son

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Kendrapara: In an emotional reunion after nearly 35 years, Pramila Mallick of Kendrapara district has returned home and reunited with her family, decades after she went missing.

Pramila’s son was just one and a half years old when she disappeared, and her family had eventually feared that she may have died during the 1999 Super Cyclone.

However, she was alive and had been living in Himachal Pradesh, where institutional records identified her by the name Ramkali Malik.

The search for her family gained momentum after authorities in Himachal Pradesh found clues in her fragmented memories.

An Odia tattoo on her arm, along with her recollection of places in Odisha, helped investigators narrow down her identity and trace her roots to Kendrapara.

The case was subsequently taken up with the assistance of India Cares and Odisha Police.

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A coordinated effort involving officials and volunteers helped verify Pramila’s identity and locate her relatives in Kendrapara.

She had earlier stayed at a mental healthcare facility in Shimla and later at Nari Niketan before being shifted to an old-age home in Bhangrotu, Himachal Pradesh.

After her family was traced, Pramila first connected with them through a video call.

Odisha Police personnel, along with a family member, later travelled to Himachal Pradesh to complete the necessary formalities and bring her back to Odisha.

Her return has brought an emotional end to a decades-long separation. The son she left behind as a toddler is now 37 years old, having spent most of his life without his mother.

The reunion was made possible through the combined efforts of the authorities, India Cares, and individuals who followed the small clues that eventually led Pramila back to her family.

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