Missing son reunites with family in Balasore after 12 years, emotions run high

A minor boy, who had gone missing from his home in Asuria village under Nandura panchayat of Khaira block in Balasore district, returned after 12 years. Bhagaban Jena, the elder son of local resident Upendra Jena, had left home at the age of 16 following an argument, sources said.

At the time of his disappearance, his father was working in Hyderabad. Bhagaban had reportedly left, saying he was going to live with his father, but never reached him. Despite extensive searches, the family was unable to trace his whereabouts for over a decade.

Unexpected Return Brings Joy To Household

On Monday afternoon, Bhagaban suddenly arrived home, much to the astonishment and delight of his family members. Now in his late twenties, he was found to be speaking in broken Hindi and revealed that he had been living in Pune, Maharashtra.

Sharing her joy, his mother Urmila Jena said, “We had searched for him a lot and prayed relentlessly. We did not stop praying, and our prayers were heard, and he has finally returned. He said that he was living in Pune, Maharashtra, till now. From there, he first came to Bhubaneswar and then to Bhadrak.”

Family Recalls Painful Disappearance

His sister, Pratima Jena, recalled the events that led to his departure. “He had left home after an argument with our grandparents. He said that he was leaving to live with our father, but he never reached there. We had looked for him everywhere. Now, we are just extremely happy to have him back.”

With his unexpected return, the Jena household is now filled with relief and celebration after enduring years of worry and unanswered questions.