Missing Since 2013 Gujarat Woman Wakes Up After 11-Year Coma In Kolkata

In a miraculous yet emotional reunion, a 45-year-old woman recovered from a comatose state after 11 years in Kolkata's hospital and reconnected with her family that lived in Bhamaiyya village of Godhra taluka in Panchmahal, Gujarat. The woman, identified as Geeta Baria, went missing in 2013 during a family wedding. 

As per the reports, On February 10, a doctor from the Pavlov Institute of Kolkata contacted the Panchmahal district police control room and shared about Geeta's recovery and her recollection of her family's details. Panchmahal SP Himanshu Solanki told a media outlet, “The hospital contacted the police and the police verified the details of the village and the family. When we could contact the family, the doctors had Geeta video call her family. They recognised each other…” He further added that Geeta went missing in 2013 and it is yet to be ascertained how she landed in Kolkata. 

Struggles that Geeta's family faced in her absence

Geeta's family searched for her for over two years but their attempts were futile. She was a married woman with three kids- Hitesh, Divya and Vipul. However, during her comatose state or her disappearance, Geeta's husband passed away. Her children have a faint memory of their mother. The family, especially the kids, had to struggle a lot after her disappearance and the death of her husband. Geeta's brother-in-law Balwant said that the distant relatives provided for the daily needs of her children but the financial support for their schooling was not available.

Geeta spoke to her family members on video call 

On Sunday, February 11, Geeta spoke to her family over video call, recognised her sisters and was overwhelmed by seeing her children all grown up. She was also emotional after hearing about the struggles her children had to go through. Geeta's sister Bhanumati said, "She recognised me. The children have grown up, so she was too numb to understand how they would have lived without her…”

The Panchmahal district police stepped in to help Geeta's family travel to Kolkata and bring Geeta back to Panchmahal. Inspector Pravin Ashoda said, “The family, along with a personnel of the district police, will travel by train to Kolkata on Thursday. The district administration has made arrangements for their travel on humanitarian grounds… They will bring back Geeta Baria to her village after completing formalities.”