Four years, a lost life and a journey home: How Kerala Police reunited a Nagpur engineer with his family

For four years, Rashtrapal Manohar Chahandae, a 37-year-old M.Tech engineer from Nagpur, wandered the streets of Kochi, India, living on charity and suffering from depression. The engineering graduate from VK Patil College of Engineering in Ahilyanagar had only faint memories of his past life, having moved 1,600 km away in 2022. After his parents' deaths and his three sisters' marriages, Chahandae became increasingly isolated, eventually falling into a deep depression.

In July, Chahandae was spotted near Mulavukadu police station in Kochi, huddled near a water kiosk, begging for water. He had been relying on charity for sustenance, living in an abandoned building at night. After being taken to a psychiatrist, Chahandae slowly began to open up and recall details of his life. His family had filed a missing complaint in 2022 but had not pursued it.

Kerala Police took it upon themselves to investigate Chahandae's background and seek a reunion with his family. They traced his college and eventually connected with a relative, who helped them reach his siblings and aunt in Nagpur. Upon reunification, Chahandae expressed joy at being back with his loved ones and recounted his story, including his time at Mahindra & Mahindra in Mumbai, where he earned Rs 1 lakh per month before leaving two years prior.