25 years ago, Saroo Brierley became separated from his family in India, was declared a “lost child” and placed in an orphanage. Today, thanks in part to Google Earth, he’s finally been reunited with his family!
Despite only being five years old when he boarded the wrong train and couldn’t find his way back home, Saroo remembered the town was he was raised:
“I kept in my head the images of the town I grew up in, the streets I used to wander and the faces of my family, I treasured those memories,” he said.

For the past 10 years, he’s scoured the internet looking for clues that might lead him home. He’s spent “many hours” in Google Earth zooming around to try to find something familiar. He remembered the Khandwa train station, which eventually lead him to where his family was located.
It’s quite an amazing story, and another example of the ways that Google Earth can be used to bring people together. You can read the full story on The Mercury.
About Mickey Mellen
Mickey has been using Google Earth since it was released in 2005, and has created a variety of geo-related sites including Google Earth Hacks. He runs a web design firm in Marietta, GA, where he lives with his wife and two kids.
An Amazing story, good luck to him.
but how…
explain!!
Amazing story… but how did he find the way back home?
A truly inspiring story with a beautiful picture of the family being reunited.