Three minor sisters jump to death in Ghaziabad, gaming addiction suspected

Ghaziabad (UP): Three minor sisters died after they allegedly jumped from the balcony of their ninth-floor apartment here in the early hours of Wednesday. Police said the incident is suspected to have followed a dispute at home over the girls’ online gaming habits.

The incident took place around 2 am at a residential tower in Bharat City under the Teela Mor police station limits. Police said they received information at about 2.15 am that three girls had jumped from the balcony of their flat.

Assistant commissioner of police Atul Kumar Singh said officers rushed to the spot and found the three sisters lying on the ground floor with severe injuries. They were declared dead at the scene.

The deceased have been identified as Vishika, 16, Prachi, 14 and Pakhi, 12. They were the daughters of Chetan Kumar.

According to the police, the sisters were very close to each other and spent most of their time together. They followed a similar routine every day, including studying, eating and sleeping together.

Preliminary investigation suggests that the girls had developed a strong interest in online gaming during the Covid-19 pandemic. They were reportedly playing a task-based online game described as a Korean love game. Police said the sisters were also irregular in attending school.

Investigators said their parents had recently raised concerns about the amount of time the girls were spending on online games. Soon after, the incident took place.

Police have started a detailed probe to understand the exact circumstances that led to the tragedy. Further investigation is underway.

(with inputs from agencies)