Over 48,000 Women Reported Missing in Maharashtra in 2025; 11,697 Still Untraced: Government Data
NHRC Issues Notices To Five States Including Maharashtra, Demands Report In Two Weeks On Rising Missing Persons Cases
Mumbai, February 25, 2026: The Maharashtra government informed the State Legislature that 48,278 women were reported missing in 2025, out of which 36,581 have been traced, while 11,697 remain unaccounted for.
In the same year, 12,113 minor girls were reported missing, and 10,295 of them have been traced so far. The figures were shared in a written reply by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, who also heads the Home Department, in response to a legislative question on missing women and girls.
According to the official reply, Mumbai recorded 1,723 cases of missing girls in 2025, a figure nearly ten times higher than in 2024. A comparative review of 2024–25 data on missing children aged 15–18 years across Maharashtra indicates an overall rise in cases, with a sharper increase among girls in urban centres such as Mumbai and Navi Mumbai.
Despite the rise in reports, the government stated that police performance remained strong, with over 96 per cent of missing children traced statewide. Nagpur recorded a decline in cases, which the government attributed to improved preventive measures.
The issue was raised by BJP legislators Atul Bhatkhalkar and Sanjay Upadhyay, along with Shiv Sena MLA Mangesh Kudalkar, among others.
They sought clarification on reports stating that between 2024 and 2025, a total of 37,695 girls and women went missing in Maharashtra, including 4,096 minor girls and 33,599 adult women, and also requested district-wise data for Raigad, Navi Mumbai, Mumbai, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar and Nagpur.
Responding, Mr. Fadnavis stated that in 2024, 45,662 women were reported missing in Maharashtra, of whom 30,877 were traced. In the same year, 11,316 minor girls were reported missing and 8,475 were traced.
For 2025, he confirmed that 48,278 women were reported missing, with 36,581 traced, while 12,113 minor girls were reported missing and 10,295 were traced.
District and City-Wise Data
Raigad District:
2024: 102 minor girls reported missing — all traced
2025: 70 minor girls reported missing — 66 traced
Mumbai Police Commissionerate (2024–25 combined):
1,435 minor boys and 3,080 minor girls reported missing
1,409 boys and 3,046 girls traced
Navi Mumbai:
2024: 151 boys and 304 girls missing — 146 boys and 300 girls traced
2025: 172 boys and 346 girls missing — 167 boys and 327 girls traced
Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar:
2024: 30 women and 5 minor girls missing — 23 women and 4 girls traced
2025: 22 women and 17 minor girls missing — 19 women and 10 girls traced
Nagpur:
2024: 1,904 women and 370 minor girls missing — 1,728 women and 352 girls traced
2025: 1,875 women and 391 minor girls missing — 1,704 women and 371 girls traced
Overall (two years): 3,779 women and 761 minor girls missing — 3,432 women and 723 girls traced
The Chief Minister further stated that the state has conducted 13 special drives under Operation Muskan between July 2015 and December 2024 to trace missing and exploited children and reunite them with their families.
Operation Muskan 14 is currently underway from January 20 to February 20, 2026. He also noted that following a state circular issued on April 15, 2025, Missing Cells were activated across all police units. Under the Mission Cell framework, Operation Search 1 and Operation Search 2 were conducted, leading to the tracing of 5,066 women and 2,771 children across the state.
