Meerut children found safe after mimicking YouTube Secret House challenge

Two children in Uttar Pradesh's Meerut went missing after leaving home to recreate a YouTube Secret House game. Their safe recovery has renewed focus on how online challenge videos can influence children.24-hour 'Secret House' challenge sends Meerut children into hiding near farm. ( AI image for representation)Two children aged 11 and 7 sparked a frantic search in Meerut after they suddenly disappeared from their home, only to be found hours later hiding near a farmhouse while attempting to recreate a YouTube 'Secret House' game, police said on Monday.The children, residents of B-Block colony in Hastinapur, left home on Sunday afternoon after watching a video about a '24-hour challenge'. Inspired by the game, they decided to create a hidden base of their own and spend 24 hours there.What began as an online game quickly turned into a real-life scare for their families.When the children failed to return home, their families searched nearby areas and contacted relatives, but could not find them. With no trace of the two, the families alerted the police. Police, along with the Mission Shakti team, launched a search operation. The children were located safely within around two hours and subsequently handed over to their families.Circle Officer (Mawana) Pankaj Lavania told PTI that the children told police during questioning that they had watched the gaming content on YouTube and decided to imitate it themselves. In the game, participants build a concealed base at a secluded location and remain there for 24 hours while following a set of rules. The children apparently took the concept literally, choosing an isolated spot near a farmhouse as their hideout.The incident ended safely, but the episode has highlighted how online challenge videos can inspire children to imitate potentially risky activities without understanding the consequences.- EndsPublished By: Zafar ZaidiPublished On: Aug 25, 2026 04:09 IST