Relief for Guwahati Family: Missing Woman Traced Safe in Shillong

New Delhi, April 25, 2026: A 27-year-old woman, Bhabana Sarma, who sparked a frantic search operation after vanishing under mysterious circumstances on Friday, April 24, has been found safe in the Polo Ground area of Shillong, Meghalaya. The discovery on the morning of Saturday, April 25, brings a profound sense of relief to her family and the community, though it has opened a complex investigation into the events that led to her disappearance.

The Disappearance: A Day of Uncertainty

The ordeal began on Friday morning. Bhabana Sarma, a resident of the Tetelia area on the outskirts of Guwahati and a former teacher at the Miles Bronson Residential School, had left her home as part of her routine.

According to family members, everything appeared normal when she departed at approximately 10:50 AM. However, the situation turned critical in less than an hour. At around 11:19 AM, her family received a distress message from her. In a chilling communication, she indicated that she was in danger and mentioned that her money had been taken away.

Following this message, all attempts to reach her were unsuccessful; her mobile phone was switched off, leaving her family with no way to track her location or safety. Panic ensued as they immediately realized the severity of the situation. Her family rushed to the Jalukbari Police Station to lodge a formal missing person complaint, initiating a high-priority investigation.

The Search Operation

The disappearance of such a young woman in broad daylight triggered an immediate, multi-agency police response. Investigators from Guwahati began tracing her final movements, utilizing technical surveillance and mobile tower triangulation.

Preliminary investigations revealed that after leaving her residence, she had booked a ride-sharing service, initially intended for a trip towards Azara. However, her digital footprint suggested a more complex route. Her mobile phone’s last active location was traced to the vicinity of the Gauhati University area before the device became completely unreachable.

For nearly 24 hours, the whereabouts of Bhabana Sarma remained a mystery, with authorities and family members searching for any lead that could explain her sudden and concerning absence.

Discovery in Shillong

The breakthrough in the case came on Saturday morning in Shillong. Employees arriving for work at a branch of the State Bank of India (SBI) near the Polo Ground area discovered a woman in a state of deep distress inside the premises.

The bank staff, sensing the gravity of the situation, acted promptly and alerted local law enforcement authorities. Upon investigation, officials confirmed the identity of the woman as Bhabana Sarma, the same individual reported missing from Guwahati just a day earlier.

Eyewitnesses and initial police reports described her as appearing “disturbed” and shaken when found. While she was physically safe, the circumstances under which she arrived in Shillong—a journey of several hours from Guwahati—remain unclear.

Ongoing Investigation

Following the confirmation of her whereabouts, a team of police officials from Guwahati, accompanied by her family, immediately departed for Shillong to facilitate her return.

While the primary objective of finding her has been achieved, the case is far from closed. The police have launched a comprehensive investigation to determine exactly what transpired between the time she left her home in Tetelia and the moment she was found in Shillong. Key questions that investigators are currently working to answer include:

• The Journey: How did she travel from the outskirts of Guwahati to the Polo Ground in Shillong?
• The Distress Call: The specific claims made in her final message regarding being in danger and losing her money are being treated as central leads in the probe.
• The Motive: Police are examining all possibilities, including the potential involvement of third parties or coercive circumstances.

“We are investigating all angles,” said a senior official from the Guwahati police department. “Our priority was to ensure her safety, which has been achieved. We are now working to piece together the sequence of events and understand the context of her distress message.”

Community Reaction

The news of Bhabana’s recovery has been met with widespread relief across social media and the local community in Guwahati. The incident, which had left many deeply concerned about public safety in the region, sparked discussions on the vulnerability of commuters and the importance of emergency responses.

As the family focuses on bringing her home and ensuring her well-being, the authorities continue to urge the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious activities immediately. Further updates on the investigation are expected in the coming days as police continue to analyze statements and gather evidence from the route she took.

For now, the focus remains on the psychological and physical recovery of the young woman, with the authorities committed to uncovering the truth behind this unsettling episode.