Ahmedabad Police race against time to find 13-year-old who went missing from school
Updated: Mar 28th, 2025
What began as an ordinary school day quickly turned into a nightmare for the parents of Vishal Rajeshbhai Chauhan (13), a young student from Sanskar School, who mysteriously disappeared during recess. As panic spread through the school corridors, teachers, staff, and later, the police, embarked on a desperate search. Hours later, against all odds, the boy was found near Sabarmati, safe but visibly shaken.
Vanished without a trace
Vishal had left for school at 12.30 pm, ready for his 1 to 5 pm batch. But as the school bell rang for recess at 2.30 pm, he was nowhere to be seen. His class teacher, noticing the empty seat, immediately alerted her superiors. Concern turned to alarm when two staff members were sent to check his home at 3 pm, only to find that he had never returned.
By 4.52 pm, a missing child alert had reached Vadaj police station. Nine minutes later, another distress call confirmed the case. A local resident, Shaileshbhai, reported that Vishal had not been seen since he left school, triggering a full-scale police operation.
City turns into a search grid
Ahmedabad Police officers from Vadaj, Naranpura, and Navrangpura police stations, along with the Surveillance Squad were mobilised. CCTV footage was meticulously scanned, teams spread across the neighbourhoods, and every possible lead was pursued.
Emotional reunion
Then, just as despair threatened to take over, there was a breakthrough. Vishal was spotted in Sabarmati, near his grand parents' house, sitting alone. As officers approached, the tension melted into relief. He was safe. Tired, frightened, but unharmed.
What drove Vishal to disappear that afternoon?
A double dose of scolding first at home from his mother for fighting with his sister, then later at school for misbehaving in class, his father was called to school where he also scolded him. Feeling overwhelmed, he made a rash decision to leave.
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