Three young sisters tragically ended their lives by jumping from a ninth-floor apartment in Uttar Pradesh, India. The girls, aged 12, 14, and 16, left a note saying “Sorry, Papa” before taking the fatal leap. The incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, prompting neighbors and security guards to respond to the sounds of screams and bodies hitting the ground.
Authorities identified the sisters as Pakhi, 12, Prachi, 14, and Vishika, 16, who leapt one after another from their flat in Bharat City, Ghaziabad. The Assistant Commissioner of Police, Atul Kumar Singh, confirmed the tragic deaths of the girls upon arrival at the scene.
A handwritten note found inside the apartment revealed the girls’ apologies to their father and their strong attachment to Korean culture and gaming. The sisters had reportedly expressed their deep love for Korea to their father, stating that it was an integral part of their lives that they couldn’t give up.
The girls had stopped attending school for nearly two years and had become heavily addicted to a mobile game, according to their father. The parents had recently imposed restrictions on their screen time, which investigators believe may have led to the drastic decision by the sisters. The COVID-19 pandemic was also cited as a factor that exacerbated the children’s isolation and gaming habits.
The grieving father expressed deep regret, stating that neither parents nor children should have to endure such a tragedy. Police mentioned that the sisters had been denied access to a mobile phone in the days leading up to the incident, a restriction that seemed to have a significant impact on them.
Authorities are examining the girls’ phones and diaries to understand the nature of the game they were involved in, which has not been disclosed in official statements. The case has drawn parallels to previous dangerous online challenges, such as the ‘Blue Whale game’, which raised concerns among parents worldwide following alleged teenage suicides in 2013.
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