A heartbreaking tragedy has sent shockwaves across India and beyond after three teenage sisters were found dead following a late-night incident at their family apartment in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh, raising renewed concerns about adolescent mental health, digital obsession, and the unseen pressures facing young people in the age of social media and online gaming.
The victims—Pakhi, Prachi, and Vishika, aged between 12 and 16—were daughters of Chetan Kumar and lived with their parents in a high-rise residential complex in Bharat City, Ghaziabad. The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday and has since triggered widespread public grief, debate, and introspection across the country.
Police authorities confirmed that the three sisters were discovered outside their residential building after what they described as a “domestic incident involving emotional distress.” Emergency responders were called to the scene, but all three girls were confirmed dead shortly afterward.
According to investigators, the tragedy followed a disagreement between the parents and the children over restrictions placed on the girls’ use of mobile phones. Law-enforcement officials said the father had recently imposed limits on phone usage due to concerns about excessive screen time, online gaming, and emotional withdrawal.
Neighbours reported being awakened by loud cries during the night, prompting panic within the building. By the time family members and residents reacted, the situation had already escalated beyond control.
A Troubling Discovery
In the aftermath, authorities recovered a handwritten diary believed to belong to the girls. The diary reportedly contained multiple pages expressing intense emotional attachment to foreign pop culture, online entertainment, and digital identities they had adopted over time. Police said the contents of the diary are being reviewed as part of an ongoing investigation and psychological assessment.
Officials declined to publicly release the full contents of the diary, citing ethical concerns and the ages of the victims. However, investigators acknowledged that the writings reflected deep emotional distress, identity confusion, and a sense of alienation from their immediate family environment.
DDM NEWS gathered that the sisters had withdrawn from formal schooling nearly two years earlier, a development that is now drawing attention to the long-term impact of social isolation during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Mental-health professionals say prolonged isolation, excessive online immersion, and lack of structured peer interaction may have played a role in shaping the girls’ emotional world.
Digital Obsession and Identity Crisis
Police sources confirmed that the girls had developed a strong fascination with foreign pop culture, particularly Korean entertainment, as well as online gaming platforms. They reportedly used alternate names online and spent long hours engaging with digital communities.
Investigators are also examining claims that the girls may have been exposed to online content or gaming challenges that encourage emotional dependency, identity detachment, or harmful behaviour. While no conclusions have been reached, authorities said cybercrime and child-protection units are assisting with digital forensics.
Experts warn that adolescents are particularly vulnerable to online environments that blur the line between fantasy and reality, especially when parental supervision is limited or when emotional support systems are weak.
Conflicting Accounts and Ongoing Investigation
A resident of the apartment complex told Indian media that he witnessed movement on a balcony late at night but initially assumed it was a domestic disagreement. He said he attempted to alert others but events unfolded rapidly.
Police have not ruled out any line of inquiry and are carefully examining witness statements, family testimony, and digital records to reconstruct the sequence of events accurately. Authorities also stated that counselling support has been provided to the surviving family members.
Assistant Commissioner of Police Atul Kumar Singh confirmed the deaths and described the incident as “a deeply tragic case involving minors and emotional vulnerability.”
“This is a very painful situation. Our investigation will be thorough and sensitive,” he said.
Public Reaction and National Debate
News of the deaths has ignited widespread debate across India about parenting in the digital age, the psychological well-being of children, and the responsibilities of online platforms. Social media users, educators, and mental-health advocates have called for stronger safeguards to protect minors from harmful online influences.
Many have also criticised emergency response times, with witnesses claiming that medical help arrived later than expected. Local authorities have promised to review emergency service protocols in the area.
Television footage from the scene showed distraught residents and grieving family members, prompting renewed calls for ethical reporting standards when covering tragedies involving children.
Mental Health Experts Speak
Mental-health professionals say the case underscores the urgent need for open communication between parents and children, particularly around technology use.
“Restricting access without understanding the emotional world of a child can sometimes worsen distress,” a child psychologist told DDM NEWS. “What young people need is dialogue, emotional validation, and gradual boundaries—not sudden isolation.”
Experts also warn against demonising pop culture or gaming alone, noting that such interests often become coping mechanisms rather than root causes.
A Broader Wake-Up Call
The tragedy has reignited conversations about adolescent mental health services in India, which remain underfunded and overstretched. Advocacy groups are urging schools, religious institutions, and community organisations to prioritise early mental-health screening and digital literacy education.
