A story straight out of a movie script has emerged from Bharatpur in Rajasthan, except every part of it is real. Sunil Kumar, a resident of Garhwa district in Jharkhand, had been declared dead by his own family years ago and even given a formal funeral. Now, a full 12 years later, Sunil has walked back into his family's life alive, and the reunion left everyone present in tears.
Feared drowned in a flood, then given a funeral on a priest's advice
The disappearance dates back roughly 12 years. Sunil Kumar had travelled to Chapra in Bihar to visit his sister. On his way back, he vanished under mysterious circumstances. A severe flood had struck the region at the same time, which made his family fear he had been swept away by the river's strong current. The family searched for him for months, going door to door at every relative's home, but found no trace of him. Hope slowly faded, and the family eventually accepted that Sunil was no longer alive. About seven years ago, following local custom and on the advice of priests, the family made an effigy of Sunil and carried out his last rites.
Sindoor wiped off, years spent in white, and the word deceased on a wedding card
After the funeral, life changed completely for Sunil's wife, Amravati Devi. Her sindoor was wiped off, and she was made to remove her mangalsutra, bichhiya and every other symbol of marriage. She stopped wearing colourful clothes and spent years living the difficult life of a widow, dressed only in white. Just recently, a wedding invitation card in the family carried the word deceased before Sunil Kumar's name. The entire family had come to believe that Sunil was no longer in this world.
Found gravely ill at Ambala railway station, brought to Apna Ghar Ashram in Bharatpur
Around this time, a rescue team from Apna Ghar Ashram found a critically ill, malnourished and helpless man at Ambala railway station in Haryana. He was unable to walk on his own and was suffering from tuberculosis. After receiving first aid, he was brought to the Apna Ghar Ashram in Bharatpur for proper treatment and rehabilitation. Under close medical supervision, a nutritious diet and regular care, his health gradually began to improve.
Once he regained his senses, he revealed his identity, and Jharkhand police helped trace his family
As his mental and physical condition improved during treatment, the man identified himself as Sunil Kumar and gave details of his village and family. The ashram's rehabilitation department then worked with Jharkhand police to trace his relatives and establish contact with them. When word reached the village that Sunil Kumar was alive, no one could quite believe what they were hearing.
Father and son broke down in tears, and his wife arrived wearing sindoor again
Amravati Devi and their son, Naresh Yadav, travelled to the ashram in Bharatpur to bring Sunil home. Naresh was just 7 to 8 years old when he was separated from his father, and Sunil could not recognise the grown young man standing before him at first glance. After a few moments of silence, father and son embraced and wept openly. The most emotional moment came when Amravati Devi stood before her living husband. After years of living as a widow, she had come to meet him this time wearing sindoor and dressed in a red saree. For her, it was not just a reunion but a historic moment marking the return of dignity and a new life in society. According to Apna Ghar, its purpose is not merely to shelter the helpless but to reunite them with their families and restore a dignified life to them.
