It's hard to miss the sensational news about missing children and women in Delhi over the past few days.
From WhatsApp to social media and news outlets, the topic is ablaze with concerns about over 800 people disappearing in just the first 15 days of 2026. At a rate of 54 people vanishing each day, mostly children and women, it has caused a considerable stir among residents.
The situation further complicated when some dismissed it as a promotional stunt for the recently released movie, 'Mardaani-3.'
Delhi Police branded these
, suggesting that hype was created over girls' disappearances through paid promotions.
Naturally, you're left wondering whom to believe and what the truth really is. Aaj Tak's Fact Check has examined all these statistics and is ready to answer five pressing questions causing mass confusion.
1. Is it true that 54 people go missing in Delhi daily?
Source: aajtak
Yes, it's accurate that 807 missing person reports were filed in the first 15 days of 2026 in Delhi, equating to approximately 54 people each day. This is confirmed by Delhi Police statistics. Check the figures
A daily report of 54 missing individuals is indeed worrying. However, two more points need consideration: Firstly, Delhi's population ranks among the largest in the world, close to 20 million. Secondly, the disappearance rate hasn't surged dramatically. Looking at the past five years, between 65 to 68 people went missing daily.
2. Are women disappearing more frequently?
Source: aajtak
Yes, it’s also true that more women go missing each year than men. Over the last five years, about 60 percent of those who disappeared were women. In this year alone, by January 15, reports included 509 women and 298 men out of 807 cases.
3. Which age group is most frequently missing?
Source: aajtak
The most common reports involve children between the ages of twelve and eighteen. While each case has unique triggers, abduction and ransom are among the severe crimes linked to these disappearances. Experts suggest that at times, these teens leave voluntarily, driven by peer interactions, academic pressures, or conflicts with parents.
4. Do authorities manage to find those who go missing?
Source: aajtak
Fortunately, most of the missing individuals are eventually found. Either the police locate them, or they return home independently. Between 2021 and 2025 in Delhi, more than 25,500 cases of missing children aged twelve to eighteen were registered. Out of these, over 21,500 were found, but approximately 4,000 remained unaccounted for. Similarly, many adults who were reported missing are also eventually located.
5. Is there a connection between the sudden viral news about missing persons and the movie 'Mardaani-3'?
While speculation runs rife, it's tough to confirm any link. The timing of the film's release and the spread of the missing persons' reports has fueled these rumors. Yet, the plot does revolve around missing children.
Responding to these allegations, a spokesperson for Yash Raj Films dismissed them, asserting that their 50-year-old company upholds integrity and transparency, and does not engage in such tactics.
