Mysuru: After being bid adieu by none other than Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Padma who was stuck in Shimla for two years arrived at Mysuru on Thursday night after meeting Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy.

The four-member team constituted by Mysuru deputy commissioner Abhiram G Sankar, led by Dr MS Manju Prasad, district mental health programme officer had left for Shimla on Tuesday. After speaking to the superintendent of Himachal Hospital of Mental Health and Rehabilitation (HHMHR), the team completed all the formalities for discharging Padma and then headed to meet Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur. The CM felicitated Padma, following which the team left to Mysuru, on Thursday.

Before sending her back to her native place in Periyapatna, she will be recuperating for few days at State Home for Women in Vijayanagar where she will also be counselled by an expert.

Padma has been at the Himachal Hospital of Mental Health and Rehabilitation (HHMHR) for the past two years. Officials at HHMHR said that she was sent to the hospital from a place called Tanda in Himachal Pradesh in 2016. Her family members learnt that Padma was in Shimla after a video of her talking in Kannada went viral on social media. On recognising Padma, her family members brought the problem to the notice of the district administration. They have been unable to get her back to Mysuru owing to financial difficulties. Soon after the issue was brought to the notice of Deputy commissioner Abhiram G Sankar, he assured the family of making all attempts to get her back home.

Padma reportedly went into depression after her husband inexplicably left her a few years into their marriage. Since Padma’s mother was battling a cardiac problem, her family members failed to notice the former’s mental distress. Padma is believed to have boarded a train to Chandigarh, and subsequently landed in Tanda in Himachal Pradesh, before she was sent to HHMHR.

Speaking to Newskarnataka Abhiram Sankar, Deputy Commissioner said, “As she was emotionally disturbed we do not want to send her home directly. Hence, we will make sure that she is counselled at State Home for Women in Vijayanagar. We want to keep her here till she is stabilized and emotionally stable”.

The CM personally took interest in getting Padmavathi back to Karnataka and later he congratulated Deputy Commissioner Abhiram Sankar and the Officers of Health Department who have responded immediately and made arrangements for the return of Padma. Deputy Commissioner, Mysuru is directed to extend help to her, said Chief Minister in a statement.