Three Class 6 students go missing during Shimla school outing, found a day later

Three students of a private school in Shimla, who had gone missing on Saturday, have been found safe in the Kotkhai area of Shimla district, police said on Sunday.

The boys, all Class 6 students, had disappeared during a routine weekend outing, prompting a large-scale search by police and the local community.

According to officials, they had left the school campus around 12:10 pm on Saturday with an official gate pass to visit Mall Road as part of the school’s scheduled Saturday outing. They were expected to return to the hostel by 5 pm along with other students.

When the group returned later in the afternoon, the three boys were missing. Their absence triggered concern among the school staff, who quickly informed the police. A case of kidnapping was registered at the New Shimla police station based on the school principal’s complaint.

Search teams were deployed across the city, and CCTV footage from multiple locations was reviewed in an attempt to map the children’s movements.

Despite several hours of searching on Saturday, no leads were initially found. The incident sparked panic among parents and the local community, given the age of the children and the uncertainty surrounding their disappearance.

Police sources said that the boys were eventually located in Kotkhai, a rural area about 50 kilometres from Shimla city. Details of how they reached there have not been disclosed yet, and further questioning is underway to determine the circumstances behind their absence.

Authorities have not reported any harm to the children. They are now back in safe custody, and their families have been informed.

The school has not issued a public statement beyond confirming the safe recovery of the students.

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