UPDATE:
54-year-old Sheela Chaukra has been located.
'My mother has been located. Thank you to the community and police efforts. We are so grateful for everyone’s love and support,' her daughter, Niyati Uppal shared on Facebook.
‘Please continue praying for her wellbeing,' she wrote.
EARLIER:
It has been tense four days for the Chaukra family in Sydney.
54-year-old Sheela Chaukra has been missing since January 18 and has not returned home since, Mahitha Ramakrishna, a family friend told SBS Hindi.
“She was last seen in Roseville on Sunday, January 19 morning, heading north. We have good reasons to suspect she moved through the Northern Beaches towards Palm Beach, by walking or public transport. She may now be in Gosford or North Coast,” she said.
Ms Chaukra has spent more than 20 years in Australia and speaks Hindi and English.
Her daughter Niyati Uppal said her mother has a history of mental health concerns.
“We are extremely worried for her safety and wellbeing. She has a history of mental health concerns. She is likely on the streets, in parks, or on walking trails. We are concerned she is neglecting her own health and may not seek assistance,” Ms Uppal told SBS Hindi.
“She is not traceable or identifiable so we NEED the community’s help to identify her and report to police. We want to ensure she is physically and mentally okay,” she said.
The family says Ms Chaukra is not carrying any form of ID, credit card or mobile phone.
“She is small build, an Indian woman in her mid-50s, grey hair with most identifiable features being her green backpack, white outer jacket and tan hiking boots.
“We are very worried for her safety and wellbeing. We need your help to locate her,” Ms Ramakrishna appealed to the community.
Family and friends have reached out to the community and carried out a search in Parramatta where two people claimed to have seen her.
“We have contacted her group but no one is aware of her whereabouts,” Ms Ramakrishna said.
“We received two unconfirmed sightings in Parramatta and combed through the region but still haven’t found her.”
The family has urged people to contact Eastwood Police on 02 9858 9299 if they locate her.
