“I was lost. I was in shock and had run out of money. Thanks to sensitive hearts who felt for me and traced my way back home,” said 75-year-old Sachin Dass, priest of Nar Narayan Sewashram Trust Temple in Malkangiri district, Odisha.
Dass had been missing for a month and a half and he went back to Odisha on Sunday with his friends from the temple, thanks to the humane action by a couple from Jhakri in Shimla district, who sounded an alarm as soon as they saw him, shivering in the chilly weather on 1 December.
The couple, Sandeep Sharma and Pooja Simta, sheltered the old man in their home, gave him warm clothes, medicine and food. They also got in touch with Umang Foundation in Shimla, which worked the linkages for him with the help of Himachal and Odisha Police.
“I lost myself after mother’s death, thinking that she could achieve salvation only if I visit Kailash. Unaware of my destination, I ended up in Shimla district and ran out of money. I asked strangers for money for bus fare and people fed me,” Dass shared with The Statesman.
“I am lucky that someone was there to help me. They took me home. The doctor diagnosed me with fever and I was given medicine, warm clothes and food,” he shared, with lot of hope in eyes.
He said he was grateful to the people of Shimla, who benevolently helped him and traced his roots. “I can’t even think where would have I landed, had they not come to my rescue,” he added.
Vishnu Sardar, Secretary of the temple in Odisha, who travelled all the way to Shimla to take Dass back, said, “ Baba (Sachin Dass) has been serving our temple and tribal people there since 40 years and is everyone’s favourite. His goodness has returned to him with gift of life. When we reached Shimla, Sandeep and Pooja received us with warmth and Jhakri police were really cooperative and kind. I have never seen such helpful people.”