Addicted to a Korean game: three sisters die by suicide after jumping from the ninth floor

Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh — In a heart-rending incident that has shocked the nation, three sisters aged 12, 14, and 16 jumped to their deaths from the ninth floor of their apartment in Ghaziabad, India. Police and family sources indicate that an excessive obsession with online Korean games and culture may have played a critical role in the tragedy. The incident occurred late on the night of Tuesday, 3 February.

Before taking their lives, the sisters left a handwritten suicide note addressed to their father, simply stating, “Sorry, Papa”, accompanied by a crying emoji. In addition, authorities recovered a pocket diary containing eight pages detailing their gaming habits, mobile phone usage, and reflections on their mental and emotional states.

According to police reports, the three sisters went to the balcony of their apartment, locked the door from the inside, and jumped one after the other. The screams and sounds of their fall woke their parents, neighbours, and security personnel of the housing complex. By the time authorities broke open the door, it was too late.

Assistant Police Commissioner Atul Kumar Singh confirmed: “We reached the scene and found that Chetan Kumar’s three daughters had tragically jumped from the building.”

Family members revealed that the sisters were deeply engrossed in a so-called “Korean love game.” They had even adopted Korean names for themselves and performed nearly all activities together. Their gaming addiction reportedly began during the COVID-19 pandemic, eventually leading them to stop attending school altogether two years ago. The middle daughter, Prachi (14), was believed to take the lead both in family dynamics and within their gaming routines.

Recently, their parents had restricted their mobile phone usage. Authorities suspect that the sisters experienced severe emotional distress in response to this limitation. Messages scrawled on the walls, including “I am very lonely” and “My heart is broken”, further indicate their mental turmoil.

Their father, Chetan Kumar, emotionally stated: “They said, ‘Korea is our life. We cannot leave it.’ I hope no parent ever experiences such a tragedy. I urge all parents to be vigilant about their children’s online gaming habits.”

Senior police officer Nimish Patel noted that while the exact game involved has not yet been identified, investigators are analysing the suicide notes and diary entries to gain a clearer understanding of the sisters’ mindset.

Victims’ Profile

The tragic loss has raised urgent questions about the impact of online gaming on minors and the need for parental oversight in digital spaces. Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the deaths, aiming to provide insights that could prevent similar tragedies in the future.