MENTALLY ILL YOUTH FROM UP REUNITED WITH FAMILY

An 18-year-old mentally challenged youth, who was rescued from a pavement on Poonamallee High Road in Vanagaram by volunteers of an NGO on September 9, was on Monday handed over to his family members. It was a emotional meeting, those who witnessed it said.

Tusshar Sharma, dressed in a full-sleeved white shirt and black trousers, burst into tears on seeing his uncle Dheeraj Sharma and cousin Lokesh Sharma at the office on Udhavum Karangal, an NGO, in Tiruverkadu. "His aged mother Shyama Sharma, grandmother Motia Sharma and his three younger sisters are eagerly waiting for his return to their home town of Gola Gokarnath in Uttar Pradesh. On Tuesday morning, we will leave for New Delhi by train and then board another train for our native place. We expect to reach home soon, "Dheeraj Sharma told TOI.
During the train journey, he added, they would keep a close look on him.
It may be recalled that Tusshar Sharma was found lying in the middle of the road near Vanagaram by some passers-by who then informed Udhavum Karangal.
"We sent our volunteers to rescue him. He was wearing a dirty shirt and no trousers. He was unclean and was frightened to see people. Once he was brought to our centre, he was cleaned up and treated by medical practitioners. The doctors said he was hungry and very weak. He was administered glucose and other medicines. Later, we took him to a counselling centre where information was gathered in snatches from him, "Udhavum Karangal director Vidyakar told TOI.
Sources said Tusshar was the fourth child of Shyama and Vijaykant Sharma. After her husband's death, Shyama was living with her three daughters and Tusshar in Gola Gokarnath where the family ran a grocery shop. In May, Shyama took her son to meet a priest at a temple in Ambala from where he disappeared. Shyama lodged a complaint with the police. The case was reported in newspapers in Uttar Pradesh.
Another of Tusshar's uncles Rajnesh Rikhye, talking to TOI over the phone form Delhi, said, "We are thankful to the NGO which rescued Tusshar and helped return him to us.".