He Called to Say He Missed His Mom’s Cooking. Then He Disappeared." Family of international student Sahil Kumar pleads for answers amid delays and limited camera footage

It was an ordinary call on an ordinary morning — one that any parent of a student living abroad would cherish. On May 16, 22-year-old Sahil Kumar phoned his parents from the GO train, reassuring them he was settling in well in Canada, that he missed his mother’s home-cooked meals, and promised to call again soon.

That call, made at 11:49 a.m., was the last time anyone heard from him.

Just three weeks into his new life in Canada, Sahil — a bright young student from the village of Nandgao in Haryana, India — vanished.

He had left his shared accommodation in downtown Hamilton that morning, heading to class at Humber College, located near Yonge and Bloor streets in Toronto. His family says he was full of hope about building his future, frequently staying in touch since his arrival in late April.

Security footage later placed him near Yonge and Dundas around 1 p.m., backpack on, wearing a white collared shirt and black jacket. Shortly after, his phone battery died at 1:31 p.m. And then, nothing.

Days Lost, Questions Multiply

It wasn’t until four days later that Hamilton Police issued a missing person alert. Sahil had left without his passport or laptop and was unfamiliar with Toronto. His recent online activity suggested an interest in the waterfront, but there was no other indication of where he might have gone — or why.

By the time Toronto Police took over the case on May 22 — six days after his disappearance — critical hours had already passed. To his cousin Amit Singh, who lives in the same village in India, the delay is deeply troubling.

“We don’t understand why it took so long for Toronto Police to get involved,” Singh said. “He was last seen in their jurisdiction.”

The family is also frustrated by what they feel is limited access to crucial CCTV footage. Police have explained that unless the case is reclassified as a criminal investigation, privacy laws restrict access to private or commercial camera recordings. This leaves many potentially vital leads out of reach.

Toronto Police confirmed the case remains under investigation but have not reclassified it. They released the surveillance footage in hopes the public might help identify Sahil’s whereabouts.

“There is no indication of foul play,” said Stephanie Sayer, a media relations officer. “But we are very concerned for his well-being.”

The Human Toll of a Missing Son

Back in Haryana, the silence is unbearable. Sahil’s mother has stopped eating, weighed down by worry. His younger brother, who had encouraged him to study in Canada, now blames himself.

“Sahil was never someone who wandered aimlessly,” Singh said. “He was responsible, thoughtful, and always kept his family informed.”

The family has given power of attorney to the Indian Consulate in Toronto to follow the case, but so far, they say the support has been minimal.

“They called us to ask what updates we have,” Singh added. “We were hoping they’d provide answers, not ask us for them.”

The Consulate General of India in Toronto has not responded to requests for comment.

Gaps in the Law and the Experience of International Students

Ontario’s Missing Persons Act, introduced in 2019, was intended to help police investigate disappearances when there is no immediate evidence of a crime. While it allows access to certain records like phone and bank data, it does not cover private surveillance footage.

Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife, one of the law’s co-authors, says international students — often young, alone, and navigating a new culture — are especially vulnerable and need more responsive systems in place.

“That vulnerability should influence how we react when they go missing,” Fife told CBC News.

A Family's Hope in the Silence

Even as the days drag on with no new information, Sahil’s father, Harish Kumar, is holding onto hope.

“I still believe the authorities will help us,” he said in Hindi. “We just want to know where our son is.”

The family’s plea is simple: treat Sahil’s case with urgency, transparency, and compassion — the same way any family would hope for if their child had vanished far from home.