Ghaziabad Tragedy: Teen Sisters’ Deaths Spotlight Digital Addiction Risks

A tragic incident in Uttar Pradesh’s Ghaziabad continues to raise disturbing questions as investigators dig deeper into the deaths of three minor sisters who allegedly jumped from the ninth floor of their apartment building. The girls Nishika (16), Prachi (14) and Pakhi (12) died after falling from the balcony of their high-rise residence in the Sahibabad area during the early hours of the night. Authorities are examining whether prolonged online gaming involvement and recent mobile phone restrictions may have contributed to emotional distress .

According to investigators, the sisters had been heavily engaged with a Korean task-based game described as a role-play “love game.” Family members told police the girls had been playing online games for nearly three years, especially since the pandemic, and had grown increasingly withdrawn from regular social life. They reportedly stopped attending school and spent most of their time together inside their room. Police say their world seemed to revolve around digital content , particularly Korean-themed media and gaming environments.

Fresh updates from the probe reveal that the sisters allegedly locked their room from the inside before the incident. Their mobile phones were found outside , suggesting they had thrown the devices away prior to the act. A handwritten note recovered from their belongings reportedly included an apology addressed to their father. However, officials have cautioned that the exact meaning and psychological context of the note are still under forensic examination .

The father has stated he was unaware that the game involved task-based progression or potentially harmful challenges. He said his daughters frequently expressed a desire to visit Korea and were deeply emotionally attached to the virtual world they inhabited. Investigators are now conducting detailed digital forensic analysis of the seized mobile phones to determine whether any in-game instruction or interaction directly influenced their actions. So far, police have not officially confirmed a direct causal link between a specific game task and the deaths.

Law enforcement authorities emphasize that the investigation remains open and multi-dimensional . Officers are recording statements from family members, neighbours and others connected to the case, while cyber experts analyse app data, chat histories and online activity. Mental-health professionals note that excessive digital immersion , social isolation and emotional dependency on virtual identities can intensify psychological vulnerability, especially among adolescents.

The case has reignited nationwide discussions about children’s online safety , digital addiction and the psychological impact of immersive role-play games. Officials are urging parents to monitor behavioural changes such as social withdrawal, secrecy around online activity, disrupted sleep patterns and emotional volatility. Authorities stress that while digital factors are being examined, incidents like this often stem from a combination of psychological, social and environmental influences rather than a single cause.