Alarming Surge: 145 Children Missing in Mumbai Within 7 Months, Girls Disproportionately Affected

Mumbai police has documented a concerning increase in missing children cases, with 82 minors disappearing in just 36 days, according to official reports.

Between June and December, police records indicate that 145 children vanished from Mumbai, with girls accounting for 93 of these cases. Of the 82 disappearances registered from November 1 to December 6, adolescents were particularly vulnerable, representing over half of all missing persons. This includes 41 girls and 13 boys aged up to 18 years.

Authorities have also documented cases involving younger children, with girls as young as five and boys up to age 11 among those reported missing during this period.

Multiple police stations across Mumbai have registered these cases, including Kurla Village, Vakola, Powai, Malwani, and Sakinaka. The geographical distribution of these incidents suggests the problem affects various areas throughout the city.

Investigators believe human trafficking may be the primary factor behind these disappearances.

The monthly breakdown reveals a disturbing pattern: June saw 26 children (all girls) go missing; July recorded 25 children (15 boys, 10 girls); August had 19 children (5 boys, 14 girls); September reported 21 children (6 boys, 15 girls); October documented 19 children (12 boys, 7 girls); November counted 24 children (9 boys, 15 girls); and December (incomplete data) already shows 11 children (5 boys, 6 girls).

These increasing numbers have prompted child welfare advocates and organizations to call for implementing a specialized "Child Safety Alert" system throughout Mumbai.

Police authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation examining all possible aspects of these disappearances.