Kerala is seeing more missing persons cases each year, with 11,897 reported in 2024. Thomas John, a 42-year-old farmer from Kannur, went missing last November and was found dead near a river. His wife, Simi, says, “Had the police responded quickly, he would have been among us now.” She adds the police delayed action because they could not track his mobile phone quickly. Police records show that missing cases increased from 8,742 in 2020 to nearly 12,000 in 2024. Districts like Thiruvananthapuram and Ernakulam have seen a sharp rise in rural missing persons. Child disappearances are also worrying, with 10,000 reported in five years and over 500 still missing. Police say family troubles, financial issues, and social media play a role. Retired officer S. Muraleedharan stresses the need for early complaint registration and better data sharing. Police note quick investigation is vital to collect digital evidence and trace movements. Many missing individuals are young adults, often due to family conflict or personal choices. A senior policewoman said, “Girls account for a high number of reported missing cases. They are vulnerable to exploitation.” Some disappearances involve criminal acts, such as the 16-month-old murder case of businessman K. Hemachandran in Kozhikode. Others remain unsolved, like the 2023 disappearance of realtor Mohammed Attoor. Drug abuse also contributes, seen in the case of Vijil from Elathur, who died from overdose and was buried by friends. Police face challenges like lack of real-time tracking systems and heavy workloads. Counsellors call for a change in approach, urging faster, compassionate investigations and better rehabilitation. Psychologists A. Dhanya and P.V. Jincy say removing procedural delays is crucial to help victims return to society.