In Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, three young sisters, Vishika (16), Prachi (14) and Pakhi (12) died after reportedly jumping from the ninth floor of their apartment building early on February 4, 2026, in a case that has drawn national attention to online gaming and youth mental health.
The incident occurred around 2:15 a.m. at their home in Bharat City Society, in the Loni area, under the jurisdiction of the Tila Mod police station limits. Police said all three sisters went out onto the balcony from the puja room, used a chair to access it, and then jumped one after another. They were rushed to a hospital in Loni, where they were declared dead on arrival.
According to police and family accounts, the sisters had bolted their room door from the inside before stepping onto the balcony. Neighbours reported hearing screams and loud noises that woke residents across the housing complex.
According to a report by Times of India, the sisters had not attended school since the COVID-19 pandemic, and the eldest sister was still enrolled only in Class 4 despite being 16 years old. Their parents, especially father Chetan Kumar, had expressed concern about their excessive mobile phone use and gaming, and had previously reprimanded them and attempted to limit their screen time.
Police later confirmed that none of the three girls had attended school consistently for nearly two to three years. During this period, they became increasingly withdrawn and spent almost all their time together, reportedly doing everything in unison, including eating, bathing, and sleeping.
Their father told investigators that the girls had been playing the suspected online game for approximately two and a half to three years, a habit that began during the pandemic lockdown period.
At the scene, police recovered handwritten messages and parts of what was described as a “diary,” including a note titled “True Life Story” with the words, “I’m really sorry. Sorry papa” and a crying emoji, addressed to their parents. In other descriptions of the note, the girls reportedly wrote that they felt they could not detach from the things they were involved in, indicating deep psychological distress.
Further investigation revealed that police recovered an eight-page pocket diary containing a detailed suicide note. The note urged the parents to read the entire diary, beginning with lines translated as, “Whatever is written in this diary is true. Read everything. I’m really sorry. Sorry, Papa,” accompanied by a large hand-drawn crying emoji.
The sisters also reportedly wrote on a wall inside their room, “I am very, very alone. My life is very, very alone,” offering a stark glimpse into their emotional state before the incident.
Preliminary police inquiries have focused on the possibility that the sisters’ behaviour was linked to addiction to a task-based online gaming app, often referred to in media reports as a “Korean love game.” Investigators say the sisters had begun adopting Korean names and expressing strong attachment to Korean culture, reportedly saying things like, “Korea is our life” to their father.
Some reports have compared the suspected app’s pattern of escalating tasks to past dangerous online phenomena like the Blue Whale Challenge, which involved self-harm tasks culminating in suicide. However, authorities have not conclusively confirmed the exact nature of the gaming content or its direct link to the sisters’ actions.
Police stated that tensions escalated after the parents objected to the girls’ prolonged phone use and restricted their access to mobile devices. Only after the tragedy, during preliminary forensic checks of the phones, did the father learn that the game allegedly involved structured “tasks” that the sisters appeared to be following. He reportedly had no prior knowledge of these task-based elements while they were actively playing.
Officials have clarified that while mobile gaming and Korean content appear to have influenced the sisters, no specific game name or task sequence has been officially confirmed so far.
Forensic teams are analysing the girls’ mobile phones, digital activity and gaming history to determine the precise influences involved.
Mental health specialists have raised concerns about compulsive gaming and screen addiction among adolescents, emphasizing that excessive engagement with online gaming may contribute to emotional distress and difficulties in daily functioning.
MedBound Times connected with psychologist Khushboo Agarwal, , who has an MSc in Developmental Psychology and an MA in Clinical Psychology, to gain insights into teen behavior concerning online gaming. Currently a psychologist at Symbiosis International University, she stated,
"It is deeply worrying that these games use the same dangerous tactics as the 'Blue Whale Challenge'. Because a young person's brain is still growing, it is easily hooked by these tasks. The games are designed to trigger 'feel-good' chemicals like dopamine, making them highly addictive. This gives players a fake sense of purpose but actually ruins their self-control and messes up their daily life."
She further added that "you can often see the impact through emotional changes. If they are asked to stop, they might become very angry or upset." Because of this, it is vital for parents to stay involved and monitor:
Who they talk to (friends and online contacts).
What they use (social media and new apps).
Warning signs (like the use of alcohol or drugs).
She warns that, "if parents notice any changes in their child’s mood and behaviour, then going to a mental health professional should be encouraged, especially consulting a nearby mental health professional or rehabilitation specialist."
If you or someone you know is struggling with emotional distress or suicidal thoughts, immediate support is available. In India, confidential mental health assistance can be accessed through the Government of India’s 24x7 toll-free KIRAN Mental Health Rehabilitation Helpline at 1800-599-0019, as well as Tele MANAS by dialing 14416.
(Rh/TL/MSM)
