While Mumbai is known for its historic and modern architecture, for Norwegian national Lasse Lund the city holds difficult memories. He says he was left alone there at age 10 after his parents abandoned him during a family trip. His account, shared in a recent viral Instagram video, describes years surviving on the streets after his father returned to Norway and his mother was jailed for overstaying her visa.
Lund said he worked informally as a tourist guide, slept in temples, shrines and on pavements, and received help from strangers in the Dharavi area. He credited one driver named Rahul with providing clothes and noted that local residents often shared food. He later received assistance from the Finnish Embassy to return to Europe.
The story has prompted reminders for families travelling abroad. Authorities advise that children carry identification, emergency contacts and know whom to approach if separated. In India, lost or abandoned foreign children are typically first assisted by local police and child protection services, after which the relevant embassy is notified.
Foreigners Regional Registration Offices can handle related visa and immigration matters. The Ministry of External Affairs recommends immediate contact with the embassy or consulate in emergencies. Parents are advised to report disappearances to police, inform their embassy, notify hotel staff and keep digital copies of passports and photographs.
Lund’s experience is described as exceptional, yet it underscores the value of careful planning for international travel with children.
