Delhi’s Missing Files: Over 500 Women Gone, Hundreds Still Untraced

Authorities scramble as child and adult disappearances continue to rise in early 2026.

In the first 15 days of 2026, nearly 500 women and girls were reported missing in Delhi accounting for nearly two thirds of all missing cases, according to police records. Up to 509 women and girls were among the 807 individuals who were reported missing between January 1 and January 15. This shows that roughly 54 people were reported missing each day on average. According to police reports 235 of the 509 women and girls and 298 men have been found so far but up to 572 are still missing.

Around 191 of the total missing instances involved minors, raising concerns about child safety. With 146 missing females and 45 missing boys, girls accounted for a significant portion of these instances. 169 teenagers were reported missing during that time, making up the majority of the missing children. There were 31 guys and 138 girls among them. Nearly 71% of these young cases remain unresolved, based on police records.

Nine children under the age of eight were also reported missing, while 13 youngsters in the 8 to 12 age group, eight boys and five girls, went missing. According to the investigation, just six children from these younger age groups have been traced so far. The majority of missing persons were still adults. 616 adults, 363 women and 253 men, were reported missing during that time. While 435 cases are still pending, 181 adults were found by the police.

The latest information shows a larger, long-term pattern in the capital. Over 24,500 missing people instances were reported in Delhi in 2025 alone, with women making up over 60% of the total. Nearly 230,000 persons have gone missing in the city over the previous ten years, based on a ten-year study, with about 52,000 cases still unsolved. According to police officials, efforts are still being made to find missing people, with a particular emphasis on cases involving women and children.