Ghaziabad Tragedy: Three Sisters’ Deaths Investigated

Authorities in Ghaziabad, India, are delving into fresh developments surrounding the tragic deaths of three sisters who fell from the ninth floor of a residential building. Preliminary investigations suggest a troubling link between the girls’ father, Chetan Kumar, and a previous suicide case dating back to 2015, adding a new dimension to the ongoing inquiry.

Police investigations have revealed that Chetan Kumar, despite being married to two women, had maintained a live-in relationship with another woman. In 2015, that woman died after falling from the roof of a flat in Rajendra Nagar Colony, Sahibabad. Her death was subsequently recorded as a suicide, and the case was closed, leaving lingering questions about the circumstances.

Deputy Police Commissioner Nimesh Patel, speaking to PTI, confirmed that authorities are examining the 2015 incident alongside the current case. “We are looking at the familial and psychological factors that may have influenced the children’s state of mind,” he said.

The three sisters—Pakhi (12), Prachi (14), and Nishika (16)—jumped from their apartment in the India City residential complex last Wednesday. Reports indicate that the children were heavily engrossed in online Korean games, prompting their parents to restrict access and confiscate their mobile phones. In response, the sisters reportedly locked themselves inside their room and went out onto the balcony, from where they leapt one after another. The incident occurred at approximately 2:15 a.m., awakening other residents in the complex. The children were rushed to a hospital in Loni, where they were pronounced dead by attending physicians.

Further investigation has revealed complex familial arrangements. Chetan Kumar is married to three women: Sujata, Heena, and Tina—who are sisters themselves. Sujata is Nishika’s mother, while Heena is the mother of Prachi and Pakhi. Tina, the third wife, has another daughter, Debu, aged four. All family members resided in the same household.

Kumar is a stock market investor reportedly burdened with debts exceeding ₹2 crore. Police sources suggest he had even sold his daughters’ mobile phones to pay electricity bills. Moreover, the three sisters had not attended school for the past two years.

Family Overview:

Investigators have noted that the girls were deeply immersed in Korean entertainment and culture. An eight-page diary recovered from their home reflected their fascination with Korean culture and hinted at domestic tensions. In a note directed to their father, they wrote, “We love Koreans,” suggesting that their involvement with a particular online game may have led them to the fatal act. The sisters had also adopted Korean names in their online profiles, indicating the intensity of their engagement.

Police have officially categorised the deaths as suicides but are examining the interplay of online gaming addiction, familial stress, and underlying psychological factors. They are also revisiting the father’s role in both the current and the 2015 incidents to establish whether there is a broader pattern affecting the children’s welfare.

This tragic case has raised concerns about online gaming addiction, parental supervision, and mental health among adolescents in urban India, prompting calls for heightened awareness and preventive measures.