An emotional scene unfolded in Koraput, Odisha as a brother and sister, who had gone missing nearly a decade ago, were finally reunited with their parents after 10 years of separation.

The reunion took place on Sunday, May 17, at the office of the Child Welfare Committee (CWC) in Koraput, where the siblings met their family amid tears and emotional moments.

The children, identified as Jhadeswar and Chandrabati, are natives of Upper Jamuguda village under Kumbariput panchayat in Bandhugaon block of Koraput district.

According to sources, the family had been struggling with poverty and domestic unrest for several years. Daleya Kulesika’s wife, Pola, had earlier migrated to Tamil Nadu in search of work after allegedly facing torture and family disputes at home.

Later, Pola reportedly asked her husband and children to join her in Tamil Nadu. Following her request, Daleya travelled there along with his younger son Jhadeswar and daughter Chandrabati.

However, tragedy struck during their stay in Tamil Nadu. While searching for his wife, Daleya was allegedly attacked by miscreants and lost consciousness. Amid the confusion, both children went missing.

After returning to his village in Koraput, Daleya lodged a missing persons complaint at the local police station. Despite repeated attempts by the family, the children could not be traced for several years.

Meanwhile, the two siblings had reportedly been rescued and placed in a Child Care Institution in Coimbatore. Growing up in Tamil Nadu, the children continued their education there and gradually became familiar with the Tamil language and culture.

Gayatri Devi, Chairperson of the Child Welfare Committee in Koraput, said efforts to trace the family of the children were initiated earlier this year.

“In 2025, an enquiry was started and the Koraput Child Welfare Committee contacted the District Child Protection Office in Coimbatore. Following coordination between the two states, the process to transfer the children back to their hometown was initiated. On May 17, police officials and members of the Child Care Institution arrived in Koraput with the children and the handover process was completed,” she said.

Glory Chakraya, a member of the Child Welfare Committee in Coimbatore, said the siblings had been staying at their children’s home for the past four years.

“We came to Koraput to hand over the children to their family. They had been staying at our institution and were under our care. Through coordination with the Koraput CWC, we were able to identify their biological parents and trace the family,” she said.

The reunion turned highly emotional as the parents embraced their children after nearly a decade. Family members, officials and others present at the CWC office were visibly moved by the reunion.

The return of Jhadeswar and Chandrabati has finally brought relief and happiness to the family after years of uncertainty, pain and separation.