Over 800 vanish from national capital in just 15 days of 2026, Delhi Police releases statement

UPDATE: In a statement, Delhi Police said that the number of missing persons reported in Delhi has remained largely stable over the past decade. In January 2026 alone, 629 missing persons were successfully traced, it said. Police also warned against rumour mongering on the issue and appealed to citizens to not fall for rumours.

In a shocking revelation, it has come to light that more than 800 people were reported missing in Delhi in the first 15 days of 2026. According to a report published by news agency PTI, between January 1 and 15, a total of 807 people went missing, with an average of 54 people going missing every day. Of these, 509 were women and girls, and 298 were men. The data also revealed that an average of 13 children went missing in this period. The Delhi Police data, as quoted by PTI report, showed that among the total reported missing, minors made up 191 cases, girls accounted for 146 cases, while 616 adults were reported missing. Police data stated that around 572 people remain untraced while police have managed to trace 235 of the missing persons.

Also Read: India US trade tariff stalemate ends, what does this mean for New Delhi and its economy

Among the missing children, PTI report stated that the police managed to trace 29 girls and 19 boys, but nearly 71 per cent of adolescents (121) remain untraced. In the age group of 8 to 12 years, 13 children went missing — eight boys and five girls — with only three boys being found. In the under-eight category, a total of nine children were reported missing, of whom three boys were found, and six children remain untraced.

Also Read: IndiGo flight from Kuwait to Delhi diverted amid security threat

Adults, however, continue to make up the largest portion of missing persons, according to the data. In the first half of January, 616 adults were reported missing, including 363 women and 253 men. While police were able to trace 90 men and 91 women, 435 people have yet to be found.

In 2025, a total of 24,508 people were reported missing in Delhi, with women accounting for over 60 per cent of the cases at 14,870. Men accounted for 9,638 cases. Police managed to trace 15,421 individuals, but 9,087 cases remain unresolved, the data revealed. A decadal analysis (2016-2026) highlights a troubling trend in the rising number of missing persons each year. Over the past decade, 2,32,737 people were reported missing in Delhi, with approximately 1.8 lakh individuals traced, but nearly 52,000 cases remain unresolved, according to Delhi Police records.