An emotional reunion between a daughter and her missing mother in Chhattisgarh’s Bhilai has drawn widespread attention after an 11-month-long search finally came to an end. Pooja, a resident of Bhagalpur in Bihar, reunited with her mother Babita Devi at a local ashram in Bhilai after months of uncertainty, police visits and desperate efforts to trace her. The emotional meeting left family members, ashram workers and onlookers in tears as the mother and daughter embraced each other after nearly a year apart.

According to family members, 65-year-old Babita Devi had left her home on June 3, 2025, saying she was travelling to her maternal home in Jagatpur and would return within 10 days. However, she never came back. Initially, the family believed she may have stayed back for a few extra days, but as weeks passed without any information, concern began turning into fear. Her daughter Pooja then started an extensive search across several districts in Bihar, visiting railway stations, bus stands, temples and old-age homes in the hope of finding her mother.

Pooja said she travelled across Bhagalpur, Katihar, Purnia and Naugachia carrying her mother’s photographs. Posters were printed and pasted in public places while repeated appeals were made to local police stations. She claimed she visited nearly every possible location where her mother could have been found. Despite continuous efforts, no clue emerged for several months. Family members slowly began losing hope as the search stretched from days into months.

During this difficult period, Pooja reportedly visited Vrindavan and Mathura seeking spiritual guidance. She later met spiritual leader Premanand Maharaj and shared details about her missing mother. According to Pooja, she was advised to perform a special prayer ritual daily with faith and patience. She said she continued the prayers regularly for nearly three hours each day while still trying to search for her mother through every possible means.

The breakthrough reportedly came unexpectedly on May 11 this year when Pooja received a phone call while she was at a coaching institute. The call informed her that her mother had been found at the ‘Feel Parmartham’ Ashram in Bhilai, Chhattisgarh. Police officials from Banka district reportedly coordinated with the ashram after receiving information related to Babita Devi’s identity. The call immediately changed the situation for the family, which had almost accepted the possibility that they might never find her.

Pooja said she immediately decided to travel to Bhilai despite not having a confirmed railway reservation. She boarded the South Bihar Express in the general compartment and travelled overnight to Chhattisgarh. According to her, the journey was physically exhausting due to heat and overcrowding, but her focus remained only on meeting her mother after nearly a year of separation.

The emotional reunion took place when Pooja reached the Bhilai-based ‘Feel Parmartham’ Ashram. Witnesses present at the ashram said the daughter ran toward her mother and hugged her tightly while both broke down in tears. Pooja was also seen touching her mother’s feet as several people present at the location became emotional watching the reunion. Videos and photographs from the meeting quickly circulated on social media and attracted widespread public attention.

Ashram members later explained that Babita Devi had been found wandering near the Kachandur Mod area close to Bhilai several months earlier. Since she was unable to clearly remember her address or family details, the ashram provided her shelter, food and care. According to the ashram staff, Babita Devi repeatedly said she wanted to return home but could not recall complete information about her family. The only phrase she consistently remembered was “Jagatpur Banka,” which eventually became the key clue in tracing her relatives.

After connecting the clue with local authorities, police and ashram volunteers managed to identify and contact Pooja. Family members described the reunion as nothing short of miraculous. Pooja publicly thanked the ashram management for caring for her mother during the difficult period and ensuring her safety. She stated that the ashram had returned her “entire world” back to her.

Pooja also revealed that she never saw her father, who was allegedly kidnapped before her birth. Her father, Punyadev Singh, was reportedly employed as a manager with Central Coalfields Limited at the time of his disappearance. Since then, Babita Devi had single-handedly raised her daughter and fulfilled the responsibilities of both parents. Pooja described her mother as her only family and emotional support.

-------------