After an intense 37-hour search, 13-year-old Tasmeeth Tamsam, a native of Assam living in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, was found safe in Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Tasmeeth had left her home following a quarrel with her family. She was located on the Tambaram Express by members of a Malayali association who had been alerted that she was on the train. Exhausted, she was found sleeping in a general compartment.
The Railway Protection Force (RPF) took her into custody after she was identified. Tasmeeth, who only understands Assamese, was reported missing to the Kazhakkoottam police after her parents realized she was gone when they returned home for lunch on Tuesday. The search effort included reviewing CCTV footage and focusing on railway stations.
Initially, there were suspicions that she might have been traveling to Chennai to visit her elder brother, but he confirmed that he was in Bengaluru and had not been in contact with her. A photograph taken by a fellow passenger on a train to Kanyakumari, showing Tasmeeth crying alone, played a crucial role in the authorities quickly launching an investigation and locating her.
Upon learning that their daughter had been found, Tasmeeth’s parents, Anwar Hussain and Parbeen, expressed their immense relief and gratitude. “People in Kerala are good, and so are the police here. You brought our child back. Thank you all,” said Anwar Hussain, overwhelmed with emotion. The Malayali Association and the RPF in Visakhapatnam facilitated a video call for the parents to speak with their daughter, bringing a moment of much-needed comfort to the family.
