Drunk Man Joins Search for Missing Person—Realizes It’s Himself

In a story as surreal as it is hilarious, a man in India unknowingly joined a search party looking for a missing person—only to discover hours later that he was, in fact, the subject of the manhunt.

The incident occurred on May 21, 2025, in the district of Maharajganj, Uttar Pradesh. The man, reportedly intoxicated, had wandered away from a social gathering near a forested area. Friends and family quickly grew concerned and reported him missing. A full-scale search was initiated with the help of police, villagers, and local volunteers.

According to the Times of India, the man came across the search operation and, unaware that it was for him, began helping the team. For several hours, he participated in the effort, calling out his own name and scouring the area.

The confusion was only cleared up when a friend recognized him and informed the authorities. After a brief moment of disbelief, the man admitted his identity and was safely escorted home, reportedly amused and slightly embarrassed by the ordeal.

The bizarre episode quickly went viral across Indian social media platforms, with users dubbing it “the most iconic hide-and-seek fail” of the year. Memes flooded Twitter and Instagram, poking fun at the situation and praising the man’s unintentional commitment to finding himself—literally.

Police confirmed that no criminal charges would be filed, as the event posed no harm to others and ended peacefully. However, officials used the opportunity to warn against excessive alcohol consumption, especially in rural or wooded areas.

This is not the first time such an incident has made headlines. A similar case in Turkey went viral in 2021 under nearly identical circumstances. It appears some people really do need to lose themselves to find themselves—sometimes with the help of a search party.