YouTube challenge: Meerut children go missing to ‘play’ 24-hour Secret House game, police launch search
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YouTube challenge: Meerut children go missing to ‘play’ 24-hour Secret House game, police launch search
Meerut children go missing after attempting YouTube’s ’24-hour Secret House’ challenge
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Two children aged 11 and 7 reportedly went missing from their homes in Uttar Pradesh’s Meerut district after being inspired by a YouTube gaming challenge. According to officials, the children had watched videos featuring a “24-hour Secret House” challenge and decided to recreate it themselves.
The incident took place in Hastinapur, where the children reportedly left their homes on Sunday afternoon without informing their families.
Families alerted police after children went missing
The children’s families initially searched the neighbourhood and contacted relatives, but were unable to locate them. They subsequently approached the police, prompting authorities to launch a search operation.
Police initiated “Mission Shakti” to trace the missing children. The two children were eventually found safely later the same day and returned to their respective homes.
Circle Officer (Mawana) Pankaj Lavania said the children told police during questioning that they had watched gaming content based on the challenge and decided to try it themselves.
What is the ’24-hour Secret House’ challenge?
The challenge is associated with YouTube gaming videos in which participants build or use a hidden base or secret room and remain concealed for 24 hours while following certain rules.
According to the children’s account to police, they were inspired by this type of content and attempted to recreate the challenge in real life.
The incident highlights how online gaming and challenge-based content can sometimes encourage children to imitate activities without fully understanding the potential risks involved.
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First published on: Aug 25, 2026 01:18 PM IST
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