Away from each other for 45 days, Gondia couple finally reunited

Nagpur: It was a happy moment for Vishakha and Praful, residents of Voda village of Tiroda tehsil in Gondia district, when they were reunited on Tuesday after getting stranded away from each other in the lockdown for nearly 45 days at Nagpur.
Vishakha (24), who is pregnant, had come to Government Medical College and Hospital for treatment of her two-year-old daughter Aliya when the complete lockdown was announced.She was stranded in Nagpur while her husband Praful got stuck in Hyderabad, where he was working during the lockdown.
When TOI carried a story on her on March 31, cardiologist Dr Sandeep Khanzode even offered to operate upon the daughter, who has a heart ailment.
Praful said, “Twenty days back, I had somehow managed to come to Kamptee with the help of a truck driver. I stayed there at a friend’s place near Dragon Palace, fearing police action due to the lockdown.”
Vishakha said she shared this information with Neerja Pathania and Neha Patel, both caretakers at the shelter home, and with the help of the police they brought Praful to Nagpur. They also arranged for a job at Netravan, a community resource centre of ecotourism at Umrer for Praful. This helped the couple settle there and get some money in the lockdown period.
Vishakha said, “Neerja and Neha took good care of me. I want to thank them for doing so much for us during this lockdown period.”
Vijay Ghuge, president of Nisarg Vigyan Kendra, which runs this community centre, said that it was during a chance interaction with Neerja Pathania that he came to know about the couple and offered them a job.
“Our centre too was also looking for some people who are in need of jobs. Praful will be involved in the maintenance of Netravan, for which he would be paid a salary. If Vishakha also wants to work with him, she will also be paid additional amount for the same. They would be provided a house to stay in the premises as well,” he added.