The girls, all studying at a private school in the city and hailing from the same neighbourhood, had been active on social media platforms. According to police, they had initially connected with the YouTuber through Instagram and gradually developed a strong interest in meeting her in person.

The police said the students had informed the YouTuber about their plan to visit Chennai and were allegedly encouraged to do so. The girls went missing on Tuesday evening, prompting an anxious search by parents before lodging a complaint with the Coimbatore city police.

Acting swiftly, special police teams were deployed under the supervision of Commissioner N Kannan. Based on the CCTV footage and leads, the police traced the girls to the railway station and rescued them before they could board a train. The students were later counselled and safely handed over to their parents.