Jhumpura: The family of Hara Mahakud (60) and Sujani Mahakud (55) is on cloud nine at Chipinda under Jhumpura block in Keonjhar after they found their long lost son Srikant Mahakud.
Srikant had been missing for 20 years and the couple had lost all hopes of getting back their lost son. Srikant was only five years old when he went missing from Keonjhar district headquarters hospital. Now 25 and married, he came back home with his wife and a daughter.
About 20 years ago, Sujani along with her two sons and daughter wanted to go to her parental home in Nayakote. At that time, there was hardly any bus service. The four boarded a truck to Keonjhar and from there to Suakati. On reaching Suakati, Sujani suddenly fell sick and could not proceed. They took shelter in the house of an acquaintance there. Next day, she was admitted to the Keonjhar hospital. Her daughter Sumitra was then seven years old, Srikant five, and the youngest Mitrabhanu, two.
After three days, Sujani was discharged from the hospital. However, to her shock, she could not find Srikant. With no way out, Sujani and her two other kids came back home with a heavy heart.
The couple searched for Srikant for several days, but to no avail. For years, Sujani had prayed, observed fasts and ‘brata’ seeking return of her son. Till the other day, all the family members had been trying to trace Srikant with the help of their relatives.
Meanwhile, the ‘missing’ Srikant landed in Chandikhole and took shelter at a stone crushing unit for some days before coming to Ghagi area in Mayurbhanj district. There, he worked at a person’s house and grew up as a family member. He then married a girl.
A few days ago, his sister Sumitra traced Srikant at Ghagi with the help of a relative. As he knew his parents, Srikant has decided to rejoin his family. PNN
