While Mumbai is known for several historic architecture and modern buildings, for this Norwegian national named Lasse Lund , the city represents something far unbearable. Living in Mumbai, his childhood was spent surviving alone after he says he was abandoned by his parents at a tender age of 10 during a family vacation to India. The story sounds painful and listening to Lund, it is indeed a sad saga of a foreigner little boy lost on Mumbai streets.
Lund’s story
His video went viral on Instagram only recently. Lund's story gained international attention and the kindness of strangers from across the globe. As per his interviews, his father returned to Norway while his mother was jailed after overstaying her visa. He was left alone to take care of himself on the streets of Mumbai as a young boy.
So how did he manage all these years? To which he says that he was able to survive only by working as an informal guide for tourists. He would sleep in temples and dargahs and sometimes even on pavements. Later he received help from the Finnish Embassy that enabled him to return to Europe.
Strangers helped him
Lund recalled how he was helped by kind strangers in Dharavi . “Were it not for them I would probably have been trafficked and my kidneys removed..”. He remembered a driver named Rahul who got him clothes while he lived on the streets.
Talking to the interviewer, he shared, “I was literally homeless in Mumbai..” he said. He lived in Sio Dharavi, which is the second biggest slum in Asia.
He also told the stories of hunger, and how people fed him without any expectations. “I also went hungry once, I will never say no to people who ask me for food and drink. It’s part of my culture growing up here, everyone was very nice when it comes to food and drink, no one says no, no matter how poor you are, food is something you never say no to” he said further in the interview.
A travel lesson for families travelling with kids
Family holidays are meant to create happy memories. However it is also important to plan carefully. Kids need constant supervision, especially when travelling to unfamiliar destinations. International organisations and travel authorities consistently advise parents to ensure children know basic identifying information, carry emergency contact details and understand whom to approach if separated.
Dharavi, one of the biggest slums and global attraction in India
Another important aspect of Lund's story is his description of growing up in Dharavi. For decades, Dharavi has been attracting global tourists and filmmakers. Today it is among Mumbai's most visited community tourism destinations. International visitors join guided walks each year to understand the area's remarkable informal economy. Responsible tours emphasise entrepreneurship, craftsmanship and community life.
Vulnerability kids face during international travel
Lund's experience raises an important question for families travelling the world: What happens if a foreign kid becomes separated from parents or guardians while visiting India?
India has systems to protect such lost foreign kids
Unlike the situation described by Lund, which goes back many years, international travellers today have greater access to emergency assistance.
If a child from another country is lost or abandoned in India, the first response generally involves local police and child protection authorities.
The child's embassy or consulate is informed for the identification process
The embassy tries family tracing and consular assistance can begin.
Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs)
India's immigration system allows Foreigners Regional Registration Offices (FRROs) to handle visa-related emergencies involving foreign nationals, including children. FRROs can process services such as visa extensions, exit permissions and other emergency immigration matters.
For international visitors, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) also advises contacting the concerned embassy or consulate immediately during emergencies.
Foreign Embassies
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) and the relevant Embassy or Consulate
What should foreign families do if a child goes missing in India?
Parents or guardians should:
Report the disappearance to the nearest police station immediately
Contact their country's embassy or consulate in India
Inform hotel management or tour operators
Keep passport copies and recent photographs of children accessible digitally
Share the child's travel itinerary and accommodation details with relatives before travelling
Nevertheless, Lund's story is exceptional because of the extraordinary circumstances he describes. Yet it also highlights something universal: while governments, embassies and local authorities have mechanisms to help vulnerable foreign nationals, the first line of protection is always responsible travel planning.
