The national capital is seeing a sudden spurt in missing people incidents. Reports suggest that more than 500 women and girls were reported missing in Delhi during the first 15 days of 2026, accounting for nearly two-thirds of all missing cases. Of the 807 people reported missing between January 1 and 15, as many as 509 were women and girls.
Police said that of the 509 women and girls, and 298 men, 235 individuals have been traced so far, but as many as 572 people remain unaccounted for.
Minors accounted for 191 of the total missing cases. Girls made up a large share of these cases, with 146 missing girls compared to 45 boys. Teenagers formed the bulk of the missing minors, with 169 adolescents reported missing during the period. Of them, 138 were girls and 31 were boys.
In 2025 alone, Delhi recorded over 24,500 missing persons cases, with women accounting for more than 60 per cent of the total. In the last 10 years, almost 2.3 lakh people have gone missing in the city over the past 10 years, with around 52,000 cases still unresolved.
