While authorities managed to trace many of them, 7,777 children are still unaccounted for, highlighting the scale of the issue.

The report shows that West Bengal recorded the highest number of missing children, with 19,145 cases reported during the period.

Out of these, 15,465 children have been traced, while 3,680 remain missing.

Madhya Pradesh reported the second-highest number of cases, with 4,256 children missing, of whom 1,059 are still untraced.

Other states with significant numbers include Haryana (2,209 cases), Kerala (1,696), and Odisha (1,624).

Authorities noted that in some states the number of children found was higher than the number reported missing because children from other states were traced there.

The report indicated that no missing children cases were recorded in Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Manipur, Tripura, Gujarat, Lakshadweep, and Dadra and Nagar Haveli during the reporting period.

In some regions such as Delhi, Himachal Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir, only a small number of cases were reported.

Behind the statistics are families still searching for their missing children.

In Ambala, a 14-year-old girl disappeared on January 8 after leaving home to visit a friend. CCTV footage from a bus stand showed her leaving the area, but investigators have found no further clues about her whereabouts.

In another case from Ambala Cantonment, a girl who left home on February 5 after a disagreement with her family has not returned. Her father continues to distribute flyers across the city in hopes that someone might provide information about her.

Child rights activists say the data highlights the need for stronger surveillance systems, faster police response, and better coordination between states to trace missing children.

Authorities continue to urge the public to report suspicious activities and provide information that may help locate missing children and reunite them with their families.