A chilling silence descended upon a New Delhi apartment building in the early hours of February 4th. Three young lives – Nishika, 16, Prachi, 14, and Pakhi, 12 – were tragically cut short when they fell from the ninth-floor balcony, a devastating scene that unfolded around 2:15 a.m.
Police responded to urgent reports of the fall, arriving to find a scene of unimaginable grief. The investigation quickly confirmed the deaths of the three sisters, their bodies discovered on the ground floor below. Ambulances raced them to Loni Hospital, but all efforts to save them proved futile.
The discovery of an eight-page diary revealed a heartbreaking story. Addressed to their parents, the note detailed an all-consuming passion for online gaming and a profound fascination with Korean culture, a world their father, Chetan Kumar, described as an “extreme addiction.”
At the heart of this tragedy lay a “Korean love game” played on their father’s mobile phone. The sisters had become utterly captivated, their lives increasingly revolving around the virtual world it offered. A recent ban on using the device, intended as a disciplinary measure, appears to have triggered a desperate reaction.
The restriction, seemingly minor, deeply affected the girls, according to Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patel. They were reportedly consumed by distress over their inability to continue playing, a loss that seemed unbearable. Their world had shrunk to the confines of that game.
The obsession began during the isolation of the COVID-19 pandemic, slowly tightening its grip on their lives. School attendance became sporadic, then ceased altogether approximately two years ago, as the allure of the game eclipsed all other priorities.
Their father, overwhelmed with sorrow, expressed a devastating regret. He confessed to being unaware of the game’s power, stating that had he known, he would have never allowed his daughters to engage with it. A parent’s worst nightmare had unfolded, fueled by a world he didn’t understand.
While the specific game remains unidentified, investigators have confirmed the girls’ strong connection to Korean culture. The investigation continues, seeking to unravel the full extent of the game’s influence and the circumstances that led to this heartbreaking event.
The loss of these three young sisters serves as a stark and tragic reminder of the hidden dangers that can lurk within the digital world, and the importance of understanding the passions and struggles of those we love.
