Pragya Singh, who mysteriously disappeared from the Dehradun-Ghaziabad Nanda Devi Express while returning from the Kedarnath Yatra, has finally been found safe in Begusarai district of Bihar. The development marks a breakthrough in a case that had remained a mystery to the Uttarakhand Police, Railway Police, and other agencies for nearly six days.
Police have recovered Pragya and informed her family. However, a key question remains unanswered: how did she disappear from the train and under what circumstances did she reach Bihar? Investigators are expected to collect information in a sequence of events after recording her statement.
According to reports, Pragya Singh was travelling with her husband Manish on the Nanda Devi Express from Dehradun to Ghaziabad on the night of May 5. Manish said the couple had a normal conversation until the train crossed Haridwar, after which they both fell asleep.
He said that when the train approached Muzaffarnagar station, he woke up and noticed that Pragya was missing from her seat. Initially, he assumed she had gone to the washroom, but when she did not return for a long time, he began searching the entire train.
Also Read | Mumbai: 27-Year-Old Man Goes Missing From Shivajinagar; Family Suspects Kidnapping Over Alleged Affair.
Manish checked both the washrooms and the nearby compartments, but could not find her. Her mobile phone was also switched off. A search was conducted when the train stopped at the station, but no information was found.
The Railway Police were informed, and the case was later transferred to Roorkee police station, where a missing person report was registered. One of the biggest challenges during the investigation was the lack of CCTV footage from Roorkee and Muzaffarnagar railway stations. Manish alleged that the cameras at both stations were not functioning, making it difficult for investigators to determine whether Pragya had got off the train.
Fearing an accident or foul play, police teams searched railway tracks and surrounding areas for several kilometres, but found no clues. During the investigation, police examined Pragya’s call detail records, messages and WhatsApp chats, but found no suspicious activity.
Multiple teams from the Uttarakhand Police, Railway Police and other agencies were involved in the search operation. After six days, police received information that Pragya was in Begusarai, Bihar. A police team reached the location and recovered her safely.
Manish said police had informed the family and that Pragya was likely to be brought to Laksar soon. He added that the full details of the incident would become clear only after her statement is recorded. Police are currently questioning Pragya to determine whether she left voluntarily, was under pressure, or had any other reason for the incident.
Meanwhile, the family, which had been staying in Roorkee during the search operation, expressed relief after learning that she had been found safe.