Meerut: Two children, aged 11 and seven, left their home in Hastinapur, Meerut, after watching a YouTube video about a ‘Secret House’ game, police said.
Inspired by the online content, the children reportedly decided to recreate the game themselves. They set up a base at a secluded location near a farmhouse and planned to undertake a ‘24-hour challenge’.
The children, residents of the B-Block colony in Hastinapur, went missing from their home on Sunday afternoon. Their families searched the neighbourhood and relatives’ homes but could not locate them. The matter was subsequently reported to the police.
Children wanted to recreate online game
Circle Officer (Mawana) Pankaj Lavania said the children had watched gaming content in which players build a hidden base and remain inside it for 24 hours while following specified rules.
During questioning after their recovery, the children reportedly told police that they had been inspired by the video and decided to play a similar game themselves.
What began as an attempt to recreate an online challenge, however, left their families worried when they could not find the children at home.
Police recover children within two hours
Police teams, along with the Mission Shakti team, searched for the children after receiving information about their disappearance.
Both children were safely located within about two hours and handed over to their families, according to police.
The incident highlights how online challenge and gaming videos can influence children to imitate activities without fully understanding the potential risks involved. Close supervision and conversations about online content can help children distinguish between entertainment and activities that may be unsafe to recreate in real life.