Over 800 people, including 509 women and 191 minors, go missing in Delhi in first half of January
In just two weeks, over 800 people disappeared in Delhi—most of them women and children. The data has reignited concerns about women’s safety and child protection in the city.
In a troubling start to 2026, more than 800 people were reported missing in Delhi in just the first 15 days of January, according to official data from the Delhi Police. The figures, accessed by news agencies, reveal an average of about 54 disappearances every day in the national capital, with women, girls, and children making up a disproportionately large share of the cases.
Of the 807 missing persons reported between January 1 and 15, 509 were women and girls, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the total. Of these, 191 were minors, including teenagers and younger children, further intensifying safety concerns in the city. Girls constituted the majority of the missing children, with 146 girls reported missing compared to 45 boys.
Police data shows that 616 adults were reported missing in the same period, including 363 women and 253 men. While some missing individuals have been traced, with figures showing around 235 people reunited with their families, hundreds remain unaccounted for, leaving families in distress and communities alarmed.
Among the minors, teenagers formed the largest group, with 169 adolescents reported missing between January 1 and 15. Of these adolescents, 138 were girls and 31 boys, and a significant proportion have not yet been located.
Officials and human rights advocates have expressed concern over the pattern, noting that the trend reflects deeper social vulnerabilities and ongoing challenges with public safety, particularly for women and children in urban spaces.
In 2025, Delhi recorded more than 24,500 missing-person cases, with women accounting for over 60% of those reports. A decade-long analysis of Delhi Police's missing-person data shows that nearly 2.3 lakh people have been missing in the city since 2016, and tens of thousands of cases remain unresolved.
The spike in missing-person cases has drawn attention to issues including child safety, gender-based vulnerability, policing practices, and community support mechanisms. Authorities say efforts to trace missing persons are ongoing and emphasise the importance of timely reporting and coordinated action between police, families and support organisations.
In response to the crisis, law enforcement agencies have pointed to tools such as Operation Milap, artificial-intelligence-based tracking systems, and helplines aimed at improving the rate of reunification. Still, experts say that the high number of untraced cases—especially among women and minors—highlights gaps in preventive measures and social protections in the city.