Ghaziabad, February 4, 2026: The deaths of three minor sisters who jumped from the ninth floor of their apartment building in Ghaziabad have triggered a wide-ranging investigation, with police examining the possible psychological impact of an online, task-based gaming platform believed to have influenced the girls’ behaviour.
The incident occurred in the early hours of Wednesday in the Sahibabad/Bharat City area, when residents reported a loud noise around 2.15 am. The victims — identified as Nishika (16), Prachi (14) and Pakhi (12) — were rushed to a hospital in Loni, where doctors declared them dead on arrival, police said.
Investigators said preliminary findings indicate the sisters were heavily engaged with an interactive online game of Korean origin, which involved role-playing and completing assigned tasks. Police believe the prolonged exposure may have led to intense psychological immersion, with the girls allegedly identifying with fictional characters linked to Korean culture.
According to officials, the sisters locked themselves inside a puja room after midnight, used a chair to access a window and jumped one after another. A diary recovered from the house reportedly contains apology notes, drawings and repeated references to Korean themes, suggesting deep emotional involvement with the online content.
Assistant Police Commissioner Atul Kumar Singh said forensic teams are analysing the girls’ mobile phones to identify the exact application and assess usage patterns. “At this stage, no specific app has been conclusively linked to the incident. Digital forensics and post-mortem reports will be crucial in determining the sequence of events,” he said.
Police sources added that the girls’ gaming habits reportedly intensified during the Covid-19 pandemic, when their school attendance declined and screen time increased. Investigators are also looking into whether recent restrictions on mobile phone use by family members may have contributed to emotional distress.
A handwritten note addressed to the parents, stating only “Mummy, Papa, sorry,” was found in the apartment and has been sent for examination. Family members are being questioned as part of the inquiry, while cyber experts may be brought in to study the minors’ digital activity in detail.
Senior police officials said the case underscores growing concerns over the mental health impact of immersive online games on children and adolescents. Authorities said further conclusions would be drawn after forensic analysis and autopsy results are received.
