Woman stranded in city will see parents today

CHENNAI: Abilasha Sharma, a 25-year-old woman from Madhya Pradesh will be reunited with her parents after being stranded in Chennai for almost a fortnight.
Abilasha, who was found at Chennai Central railway station on February 15, was rescued by a railway official and handed over to an NGO. After a few days of care, she spoke the name of her paternal uncle and a place in Madhya Pradesh.The NGO traced her relatives, who are now on their way to Chennai.
Bhimrao Vithal Khedkar, who works as a parcel supervisor in railway department, said, "When I came to my office inside the platform for my morning shift on February 15, I noticed some porters and others gathered around a young girl. She was in a depressed mood and did not respond to any questions. I took her to my office and gave her a cup of tea. Through one of my friends, I contacted Udhavum Karangal, an NGO in Thiruverkadu, and informed them about the girl".
Khedkar, who is from Maharashtra, said, "I tried to speak to her in Hindi. Nearly after an hour, she said her name is Abilasha and comes from Bhopal. Then she shut up."
The girl was later handed over to the volunteers of the NGO, he said.
Khedkar was happy to know that the girl will soon be reunited with her parents. Her father Shivamani Sharma is a police sub-inspector attached to Chanderi police station in Madhya Pradesh. He had lodged a girl missing case at the local police station on February 10, this month.
Udhavum Karangal founder-secretary S Vidyakar said, "The girl did not speak to any one. We gave her food and treatment at a hospital on our premises. Her leg was swollen and had an injury mark on her chest. She was suffering from mental depression and this kind of patients are prone to harm self."
It was only after a week's treatment that Abilasha revealed about her paternal uncle Dr Lalmani Sharma in Madhya Pradesh to the counsellors. Based on the information, volunteers traced him and informed Abilasha's parents about their daughter.
Abilasha's parents and a few other family members will reach Chennai on Sunday morning, and the girl will be send off with to her parents in the presence of Khedkar and other senior officers.