More than 500 women and girls were reported missing in Delhi in the first half of January, making up nearly two-thirds of all cases, underscoring a long-term trend of rising disappearances in the capital
More than 500 women and girls were reported missing in Delhi during the first 15 days of 2026, accounting for nearly two-thirds of the 807 missing cases recorded in the period, police data shows. This reflects an average of about 54 missing persons reported every day.
Of the 509 missing women and girls and 298 missing men, police have traced 235 people, while 572 remain unaccounted for.
Large proportion of missing minors remain untraced
Minors made up 191 of the total cases, highlighting growing concerns around child safety, according to the Press Trust of India. Girls formed the majority of these cases, with 146 missing compared to 45 boys.
Teenagers accounted for 169 of the missing minors—138 girls and 31 boys—and police records indicate that nearly 71 per cent of these cases remain unresolved.
Among children aged 8 to 12, 13 were reported missing, including eight boys and five girls. Nine children below the age of eight were also reported missing. Only six children across these younger categories have been traced.
Adults form bulk of missing cases
Adults continued to constitute the largest group of missing individuals. Between January 1 and 15, a total of 616 adults were reported missing — 363 women and 253 men. Police traced 181 adults, leaving 435 cases pending.
The latest figures reflect a broader pattern in Delhi. In 2025 alone, the city recorded over 24,500 missing person cases, with women making up more than 60 per cent of the total.
A decade-long dataset shows that nearly 2.3 lakh people have gone missing in Delhi over the past 10 years, with around 52,000 cases still unresolved.
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