Shimla: Three Class 6 students of a reputed boys' boarding school in Shimla, who went missing on Saturday, were traced to Kotkhai in Himachal Pradesh's Shimla district, police said.

The boys - identified as Angad, Hitendra and Vidansh - were found at a house in Kotkhai, around 58 km from Shimla city. Police arrested one person in connection with the case.

The students, allowed weekend outings, had left the school at 12.09 pm on Saturday but failed to return by 5 pm, prompting the principal to alert the police. A case was registered under Section 137B of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (kidnapping minors) at the New Shimla police station.

Their last known location was New Shimla around 12.10 pm, after which they reportedly boarded a car heading towards the upper Shimla region. Police launched a search operation involving 150 personnel, cyber teams and drones, Station House Officer Manoj Thakur said.

Sources said one boy hails from Mohali in Punjab, another from Karnal in Haryana, and the third from Kullu in Himachal Pradesh. Their parents rushed to Shimla after being informed of the incident.

The circumstances under which the boys reached Kotkhai are being investigated, police added.