Tragic Triple Suicide Linked to Mobile Game Addiction and Phone Confiscation
Three young sisters have jumped to their deaths from their ninth-floor apartment in a horrific incident that police have directly linked to mobile phone confiscation and obsessive gaming behaviour. The tragedy occurred in the early hours of the morning in Bharat City, Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, leaving a community in shock and raising urgent questions about digital addiction among young people.
Chilling Details of the Early Morning Tragedy
Pakhi, aged 12, Prachi, 14, and 16-year-old Vishika leapt one by one from their family balcony at approximately 2.15am, according to local police reports. Neighbours and security guards rushed to the scene after hearing screams followed by the devastating sound of bodies hitting the ground. Meanwhile, the girls' parents broke through a locked balcony door only to discover their children had already vanished from the apartment.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Atul Kumar Singh confirmed the devastating details: "When we arrived at the scene, we confirmed that three girls, daughters of Chetan Kumar, had died after jumping from the building." The investigation has revealed that the sisters had stopped attending school nearly two years previously and had developed what authorities describe as a "highly addicted" relationship with a Korean mobile game.
The Role of Phone Confiscation and Pandemic Isolation
Police believe the immediate trigger for the tragedy was the parents' recent decision to restrict the girls' screen time and deny them access to their mobile phones. Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patil explained to reporters: "They had been denied access to a mobile phone for the past few days, a restriction that appeared to have affected them deeply."
The COVID-19 pandemic is understood to have significantly intensified the children's isolation and gaming habits, creating a perfect storm of circumstances. Their father, Chetan Kumar, revealed that the sisters had expressed extreme devotion to Korean culture and gaming, telling him: "Papa, Korea is our life, Korea is our biggest love, whatever you say, we cannot give it up."
Heartbreaking Note and Ongoing Investigation
Investigators discovered an eight-page handwritten note left behind by the sisters that included repeated apologies to their father. Indian media reported that the note contained the line "I'm sorry, Papa" alongside a hand-drawn crying emoji, as well as multiple references to their devotion to Korean culture and gaming.
Police are currently examining the girls' phones and personal diaries to determine the exact nature of the game involved, which has not been officially named in any police press releases. The case has drawn inevitable comparisons in India to earlier online phenomena like the 'Blue Whale game' which sparked global parental fears after being linked to teenage suicides in 2013, though no incidents were ever conclusively proven to have been caused by that particular game.
Broader Implications and Parental Warning
The grieving father Chetan Kumar issued a heartfelt warning to other parents: "Neither a parent nor a child should experience this. Children shouldn't be allowed to play such games. I would never have allowed them if I had known." His words underscore the complex challenges facing parents in the digital age, where screen time management intersects with adolescent mental health in potentially dangerous ways.
This tragic incident highlights the urgent need for greater awareness about the psychological impact of excessive gaming and digital dependency among young people. As investigations continue, mental health experts emphasise the importance of balanced approaches to technology use and early intervention when concerning behaviours emerge.
