Meerut police rescue two children attempting YouTube challenge

Two children, aged 11 and 7, were safely reunited with their families in Meerut, India, after a brief disappearance inspired by online content. The siblings, residents of the B-Block colony in Hastinapur, left their home on a Sunday afternoon to attempt a ‘24-hour challenge’ based on a YouTube game known as ‘Secret House’.

In the game, players build and hide inside a secret base for 24 hours. The children had established a base in a secluded area near a farmhouse. After the children failed to return, their family notified local authorities, prompting a search operation by local law enforcement and the specialized ‘Mission Shakti’ team.

Circle Officer Pankaj Lavania stated that the children were located within approximately two hours. During questioning, the children confirmed they had watched the gaming content on YouTube and decided to recreate the activity themselves.