Last month, Vungthunglo, a resident of Wokha town, Nagaland, saw an unknown number flashing on her phone. She answered the call. It was her son — Nzanthung Ngullie, 28, on the other end. He had left Dimapur for Goa a few days back, for work. Nzanthung revealed over the phone call that he was not in Goa.

He was stranded in Baghpat in Uttar Pradesh and had borrowed a phone to make that call.

For Vungthunglo — a mother placed geographically at the other end of the country — this was baffling and worrying. This call was Nzanthung's last contact with his mother (26 March).

Here is what had happened and led him to Baghpat. When Nzanthung arrived in Goa by train from Dimapur, he heard of the nationwide lockdown, which was announced last month to fight the spread of Covid-19. A friend from the North East living in Goa suggested that Nzanthung must leave Goa and go back to Dimapur.

Nzanthung had exhausted the money he was carrying through the trip. The friend gave him some money for his return. Nzanthung decided to proceed to Delhi instead of Dimapur.

On reaching Delhi, he travelled to New Delhi Railway Station (NDRS) from Nizamuddin Railway Station in order to catch a train to Dimapur. At NDRS, he got to know that trains had stopped running. He had nowhere to go and chose to stay the night there.

Some other stranded travellers advised him to travel to a village in Uttar Pradesh — to find help from relatives of one of the stranded travellers among them. Nzanthung was perhaps under the impression that he would be able to travel further, towards the east and then North East, if he left Delhi. They all hired a cab and reached Baghpat. And then, Nzanthung was stuck once again.

He was helped with accommodation and meals by two local men “Rajendra ji and Ishwar ji”.

Nzanthung decided that he must travel back to Delhi. The man who hosted him, decided to drop him at a point where it would be easier for him to take help from motorists travelling towards Delhi. Some locals noticed his presence and got concerned, but no one bothered him.

At Baraut, he met a man named Dastgir, who hails from Darbhanga, Bihar. Dastgir helped him by lending his phone. Nzanthung made a call to his mother.

A worried Vungthunglo got down to the task of spreading information about him. Social media helped in making her message and details of her son reach people who were in a position to consolidate help in Nagaland and in UP.

Information from her triggered a series of phone calls. Political adviser to the Chief Minister, Government of Nagaland, Priyang Pandey, mobilised help, looped in the police and administrative authorities at various levels in Uttar Pradesh, and help from Nagaland.

Nzanthung safely reached Delhi, with the help of bikers. Many people helped him on the way with meals. He was taken for a primary health checkup by the staff from Nagaland House.