Delhi has recorded a concerning number of missing persons in the first half of January 2026, with over 800 individuals reported missing. According to police data, 807 people were reported missing between January 1 and January 15, 2026. This translates to an average of 54 missing person reports every day.

The data reveals a troubling trend: women and girls constitute a significant majority of these cases. Of the 807 missing individuals, 509 were women and girls, raising concerns about public safety in the capital, especially for this demographic. Meanwhile, 298 men were reported missing during the same period. Despite efforts to locate the missing, 572 people remain unaccounted for.

Minors represent a considerable portion of the missing, with 191 children reported missing in the first half of January. Girls constitute the majority of these cases, with 146 girls missing compared to 45 boys. Teenagers aged 12 to 18 years are particularly vulnerable, with 169 adolescents reported missing, including 138 girls and 31 boys. Nearly 71% of these teenage cases remain unsolved. Among younger children, 13 between the ages of 8 and 12 went missing, and nine children under the age of eight were also reported missing.

Adults account for the largest share of missing persons, with 616 adults reported missing in the first 15 days of January. This number includes 363 women and 253 men. While authorities have traced some adults, 435 adult cases remain unresolved.

These figures reflect a concerning trend in Delhi. In 2025, the city recorded over 24,500 missing person cases, with women accounting for more than 60% of the total.

In response to these alarming statistics, the South-West District Police have been actively working to reunite missing individuals with their families. In January 2026, under "Operation Milap," they successfully traced and reunited 75 missing persons, including 28 children and 47 adults, with their families. These recoveries were made through coordinated search operations, local inquiries, and the use of technology.