Post by : Anis Farhan

A Tragic Night in Ghaziabad

In a shocking incident that has sent ripples through the community of Ghaziabad, three sisters, all minors, were found dead after falling from the ninth floor of their residence late Wednesday night. Police were alerted when residents and security guards on the ground floor heard a loud noise and saw the girls lying motionless near the building’s entrance. At that point, it became clear that a fatal fall had occurred.

Initial observations indicated that all three had jumped from a window in the washroom of their ninth-floor apartment one after the other, leaving behind a horror that authorities are still struggling to fully understand. The tragedy has raised profound questions about how digital behaviour, mental health, family dynamics, and addiction can intersect in extreme ways.

The Children and Their Background

The three sisters — aged 16, 14 and 12 — were siblings living with their father and their respective mothers in a high-rise residential complex. According to police reports, the older sister belonged to the father’s first marriage, while the two younger sisters were from his second marriage. On the night of the incident, the girls were reportedly with their mothers before they entered the puja room of the apartment and locked the door from inside. Moments later, they were found outside after having jumped from the window one by one.

Officials have noted that the sequence of their actions appeared deliberate and highly coordinated, suggesting it was not a random accident but rather a planned act, the reasons for which are still emerging through ongoing investigations by local law enforcement.

Obsession With an Online Game

Police Initial Findings

One of the most striking aspects of the case — as revealed by police investigators — is the reported obsession the girls had developed with a Korean task-based online game. Officers stated that all three had been heavily involved in playing this game, and the intensity of their engagement raised concerns among family members and neighbours even before the tragedy occurred.

According to Assistant Police Commissioner Atul Kumar Singh, the girls’ behaviour indicated an unhealthy fixation. They believed they were “not Indians but Koreans” and even portrayed themselves as Korean princesses, allegedly under the influence of the game’s content. While the exact mechanics of the game are still being examined, the police noted that it required players to complete tasks — a design element common to many digital games that can encourage repetitive engagement and goal-orientated behaviour.

Investigators are working to determine whether the fatal jump was connected to a specific task or challenge within the game, though it remains uncertain if there was direct instruction inside the game itself to commit such an act. The investigation includes forensic analysis of the girls’ mobile phones and online activity to understand the extent of the influence exercised by the game.

The Scene and Police Response

Night of the Incident

According to police accounts, around 12.30 am, the sisters went into the puja room — a dedicated prayer space inside their apartment — and locked themselves inside. They then used a chair to climb out of the window and jump off the ninth floor, one after the other. Security guards and neighbours were alerted by the sound of the fall, and family members on the same floor were awakened shortly after. Once the emergency was signalled, authorities arrived, and the bodies of the girls were recovered and sent for autopsy.

ACP Atul Kumar Singh described the scene as deeply distressing, noting that the girls left behind various diary entries and notes expressing apologies, as well as what police described as a “crying caricature” — a symbolic drawing or image reflecting emotional turmoil. These writings are now being analysed as part of the investigation.

Reactions From Family and Community

Members of the family reportedly knew about the girls’ intense involvement with the game and had attempted to intervene. Police noted that family members often took away mobile phones in an effort to curb their gaming time. However, the girls frequently managed to retrieve their devices, indicating persistent fixation.

Neighbourhood residents expressed shock and disbelief at the event, highlighting that the children were often seen together and shared many routines — such as going to school and even using the bathroom together — underscoring their close bond. These behavioural patterns suggest a shared influence or collective psychological dependence on the game in question.

Online Games and Psychological Impact

Understanding Task-Based Gaming

While the specific game involved has not yet been publicly identified by police, task-based games often require players to complete challenges or objectives in sequence. Some digital challenges associated with online platforms have been linked to episodes of harmful behaviour in previous global cases where addictive design features, social reinforcement loops, and reward mechanisms created intense psychological engagement among young users.

In much earlier international incidents — such as the phenomenon known as the Blue Whale Challenge, which was associated with a series of self-harm tasks culminating in suicide — researchers found that game-like social media constructs could promote harmful ideation if participants engaged in risky tasks without adequate supervision. Though the specifics of that case and the current one differ, the underlying idea that certain online challenges can escalate into dangerous behaviour has been a focus for psychologists and social scientists working on digital safety.

Experts emphasise that addictive gaming mechanisms, especially among minors, can exacerbate underlying psychological stress, limit real-world engagement, and blur the distinction between play and dangerous action if caregivers, educators, and mental health professionals are not closely involved. The engagement patterns of young users, parental monitoring, and family dynamics play crucial roles in moderating risk.

Digital Addiction and Children

Risk Factors and Behaviour

Gaming addiction is characterised by persistent and intense preoccupation with digital games, often at the expense of other activities such as study, social interaction, and healthy sleep. In minors, the risk of addiction increases when games provide frequent rewards, encourage social group activities, or when children seek escape from real-life stressors.

In the Ghaziabad case, police noted that the girls were not attentive to their studies and preferred to spend much of their time engaged in gaming activities. The pandemic period — when many children became accustomed to increased screen time — has been linked in research to heightened vulnerability to behavioural over-reliance on digital platforms.

Role of Family Monitoring

Experts suggest that adult involvement, clear boundaries, and balanced exposure to digital media can significantly reduce the risk of extreme engagement. When digital play becomes a substitute for real-world connection or coping mechanisms, it may signal deeper emotional distress requiring professional support.

Although the girls’ family did attempt to intervene by confiscating devices at times, the situation underscores the difficulty caregivers can face in controlling access to technology without supplementary emotional and psychological support mechanisms.

Broader Implications for Mental Health

Recognising Warning Signs

Mental health professionals emphasise that obsession with a game alone is not invariably the cause of such tragic behaviour — it is often a symptom of deeper emotional pain, social pressures, or pre-existing psychological fragility. Sudden interest in task-based games, withdrawal from social activities, dramatic changes in behaviour, and fixation on virtual identities can indicate that a child is struggling with real-world stressors. Awareness of these warning signs is key for caregivers and educators.

Importance of Support Systems

Access to mental health resources, open communication within families, and supportive environments at school and in the community are essential factors in preventing tragic outcomes. Local governments and NGOs often promote hotlines, counselling services, and awareness campaigns to reach at-risk youth before harmful behaviours escalate. Public health experts argue that interventions must be accessible, culturally sensitive, and destigmatised to encourage help-seeking among young people.

Ongoing Investigation

Police in Ghaziabad continue to analyse the materials recovered from the scene, including the girls’ diaries, mobile phones, and notes left behind. Forensic specialists are working to reconstruct digital traces and understand how the game content may have influenced the sisters’ thought processes and actions.

Authorities have not yet publicly named the game, as the investigation remains ongoing. Meanwhile, local officials are consulting child psychologists and digital safety experts to better understand the incident and explore preventive measures for similar future cases. Community leaders stress that rapid intervention, awareness and responsible digital parenting are crucial.

Disclaimer:
This article discusses sensitive events involving suicide and digital addiction. If you or someone you know is experiencing distressing thoughts or behaviour, please contact suicide prevention hotlines or mental health professionals for immediate support.

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