How Google Search Helped Reunite a Missing Maharashtra Woman With Her Family
A mentally ill woman who went missing from Maharashtra’s Sindhudurg district in May has been reunited with her family. Found wandering in Sawantwadi, Pooja Gawas was sheltered by an NGO. Trustee Kisan Choure used Google Search and limited clues to track down her home village of Vajare, leading to a successful reunion on July 2.
A mentally ill woman who went missing from Maharashtra's Sindhudurg district two months ago has been successfully reunited with her family. The breakthrough was achieved through a combination of targeted Google searches and the collaborative efforts of local police and a social welfare organisation, representatives confirmed on Friday, July 3.
Discovery of Missing Woman and Preliminary Care
The woman, identified as Pooja Bhagwan Gawas, is a resident of Vajare village in the Sindhudurg district. Gawas had unexpectedly disappeared from her home in May. Sindhudurg: Tourist Dies After Diving Headfirst Into Shallow Swimming Pool at Resort, Viral Video Surfaces.
Following her disappearance, she was found wandering destitute on the streets of Sawantwadi town. Local police intervened upon locating her and subsequently arranged for her admission to Sanvita Ashram, a shelter home managed by the non-governmental organisation Jeevan Anand Sanstha.
Tracing the Family via Digital Tools
Due to her medical condition, Gawas was initially able to provide only fragmented details regarding her background and hometown. Armed with this limited information, Kisan Choure, a trustee of Jeevan Anand Sanstha, initiated a systematic digital search to locate her relatives. Choure utilised Google Search to map out potential locations and identify administrative contacts based on the names and terms Gawas mentioned. After narrowing the search down to Vajare village, Choure established contact with the local village authorities to verify the information. Maharashtra: Golden Jackal Caught on Camera Eating Jackfruit in Rare Behaviour in Sindhudurg’s Malvan (Watch Video).
Positive Identification and Reunion
The collaborative effort proved successful when village officials helped trace Gawas's family members. Representatives from the ashram shared a recent photograph of the woman with her relatives, who immediately confirmed her identity. Gawas was officially reunited with her family on Thursday, July 2, after the completion of necessary administrative procedures. Highlighting the evolving nature of social work and tracing operations, Choure noted that such operations require immense patience, and "digital tools like Google have become crucial in tracing families."
Women and Child Helpline Numbers:
Childline India – 1098; Missing Child and Women – 1094; Women’s Helpline – 181; National Commission for Women Helpline – 112; National Commission for Women Helpline Against Violence – 7827170170; Police Women and Senior Citizen Helpline – 1091/1291.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 04, 2026 08:43 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
