Three sisters died early Wednesday after leaping from the ninth floor of their apartment building in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, India, shortly after their parents took away their mobile phones. The girls — Pakhi, 12; Prachi, 14; and Nishika, 16 — were reportedly deeply immersed in Korean culture and online gaming.
The tragedy occurred around 2:15 a.m. on February 4 at the Bharat City Society residential complex. The sisters went onto their balcony, locked the door from inside, and jumped in succession. Their cries alerted their parents and neighbors, but by the time the balcony door was forced open, all three had already fallen.
“When our team arrived, we verified that three girls, daughters of Chetan Kumar, had died after jumping from the building,” stated ACP Atul Kumar Singh.
The bodies were transported to Loni Hospital, where doctors confirmed the deaths. An eight-page note was discovered in a pocket diary, containing messages to their father such as “Sorry Papa” and “Korea is our life,” indicating their emotional struggle and fixation.
The parents had recently limited the girls’ phone usage and taken their devices away. According to DCP Nimish Patel, the sisters had been without phone access for several days, a restriction that seemed to affect them significantly.
The sisters had developed a strong fascination with Korean content, adopted Korean-style names, and became hooked on an online Korean task-based game. Their dependency began during the COVID-19 pandemic, when increased time at home fueled extended screen use and gaming habits. They had stopped attending school two years earlier, spending most of their time in their virtual world.
Messages written on the bedroom walls included phrases like “I am very very alone,” offering insight into their emotional struggles. The three did nearly everything together — eating, bathing, and engaging in online activities — forming a tightly bonded group. Fourteen-year-old Prachi reportedly acted as the group’s leader.
The father, Chetan Kumar, is married to two sisters. The family has five daughters in total. Two of the deceased girls were from one wife, and the third from the other, but the girls grew up extremely close despite being half-siblings.
Neighbor Arun Singh witnessed parts of the event. He recalled seeing one sister attempting to prevent the others from jumping. It is possible that two fell while trying to save the third, suggesting that what may have started as one girl’s suicide attempt turned into a tragic series of rescue attempts.
The neighbor also claimed it took an ambulance about an hour to reach the location. Police are examining whether online gaming contributed to the deaths, though they have not identified a specific game yet. The suicide note referenced their mobile and gaming habits, giving investigators more context regarding their online activity.
The father stated he had no idea his daughters were addicted to gaming. He urged other parents to supervise their children’s digital activities, saying he was devastated to learn what tasks the games may have been directing his daughters to complete. He added that he would never have allowed them to play such games had he known more about them.
The case has intensified concerns about the impact of online content and gaming on minors throughout India. Task-oriented games — which require players to complete challenges to progress — have been associated with risky behaviors among youth in several countries. These games may create psychologically rewarding loops that are especially addictive to emotionally vulnerable adolescents.
Gaming addiction is now widely recognized by mental health professionals, especially when it develops during key developmental years. Worldwide, the pandemic brought a major rise in screen time for children and teens, as lockdowns and remote schooling increased isolation and access to digital entertainment. For some, problematic gaming patterns continued even after restrictions ended.
The Korean Wave, or Hallyu, has become a major cultural force across Asia and beyond, spreading Korean music, drama, film, and gaming to global audiences. Although largely positive, this wave can sometimes fuel intense parasocial attachments and obsessive behavior among young fans who may lack the maturity to maintain healthy emotional boundaries.
Mental health specialists stress the need for parents to supervise children’s online experiences, not only through restrictions but also through empathy and communication. Simply removing devices without addressing emotional issues can increase distress rather than alleviate it. Maintaining trust requires ongoing conversations about digital habits and well‑being.
The case also underscores the difficulties families face in understanding children’s digital worlds. Many parents are unfamiliar with the games, platforms, and online communities their children participate in, creating a knowledge gap that can delay intervention. Educational initiatives that teach parents about gaming culture and signs of addiction are becoming increasingly vital.
Common indicators of gaming addiction include social withdrawal, declining school performance, loss of interest in other activities, altered sleep cycles, and emotional distress when unable to play. In this situation, the sisters had stopped attending school two years earlier — a major warning sign of severe disruption in normal development.
