"Unimaginable Tragedy in Ghaziabad: Three Sisters, Aged 12, 14, and 16, Die by Suicide After Parents Confiscate Their Phone—Community Left Reeling"
In a heart-wrenching incident that has stunned India and sparked urgent conversations about youth mental health, digital dependence, and parental communication, three sisters—Pakhi (12), Prachi (14), and Vishika (16)—died by suicide in the early hours of February 4 after jumping from the ninth-floor balcony of their family’s apartment in Ghaziabad, Uttar Pradesh.
According to police and local reports, the girls took this devastating step after their father confiscated their mobile phone—a punishment that, in their eyes, may have felt like an unbearable loss of connection, identity, or autonomy in a world where digital life and real life are increasingly intertwined.
The tragedy unfolded around 2:15 a.m., when the sisters reportedly gathered on their balcony, bolted the door from the inside, and jumped one after another. Neighbors and security guards say their screams pierced the night, waking the entire housing complex. By the time their parents forced the door open, it was too late.
“When we reached the scene, we confirmed that three girls—daughters of Chetan Kumar—had died after jumping from the building,” said Atul Kumar Singh, Assistant Commissioner of Police.
Television footage from the morning showed the unimaginable: the small bodies of the three girls lying on the cold ground below their home, as their mother collapsed in grief, wailing uncontrollably while onlookers stood in stunned silence.
A Punishment That Turned Catastrophic
While the exact emotional state of the girls remains unclear, preliminary investigations suggest they were deeply distressed over the loss of their phone—a device that, for many teenagers today, is far more than a tool. It is a lifeline to friends, a source of entertainment, a diary, a mirror of self-worth, and, at times, a refuge from familial pressure.
Friends and schoolmates described the sisters as close-knit, studious, and active on social media. There were no prior signs of mental illness, authorities say—but experts warn that adolescent despair can be silent, sudden, and catastrophic.
“This is not just about phones,” said Dr. Anjali Chhabria, a Mumbai-based child psychologist. “It’s about how isolated young people feel when their primary means of expression and connection is abruptly cut off—especially if they lack other emotional outlets or safe spaces to talk.”
National Outpouring—and Hard Questions
The incident has triggered national mourning and fierce debate across India. Social media is flooded with tributes, but also urgent calls for:
Better mental health education in schools
Parental guidance on digital boundaries that don’t equate to emotional abandonment
Crisis intervention resources accessible to teens in distress
Many are questioning whether the parents—grief-stricken and now facing unimaginable guilt—could have known the depth of their daughters’ anguish. Others point to a broader societal failure: a generation growing up in high-pressure academic environments with limited emotional literacy and soaring rates of anxiety and depression.
“The phone wasn’t the cause,” wrote one educator on X (formerly Twitter). “It was the straw that broke a heart already carrying too much weight.”
A Family—and a Nation—Shattered
The girls’ father, Chetan Kumar, works in the private sector; their mother is a homemaker. The family was described by neighbors as “ordinary, loving, and strict”—not unlike millions of Indian households navigating the challenges of raising children in the digital age.
Now, they are left with an emptiness no words can fill.
As candles flicker outside their building and classmates leave flowers at their school gates, India is being forced to confront a painful truth: discipline without dialogue can have deadly consequences.
A Plea from Experts
Mental health advocates are urging parents to:
Never dismiss a teen’s distress as “drama”
Create open channels for conversation before crises hit
Understand that taking away a phone can feel like exile to a teenager
And to young people in pain: You are not alone. Your life matters more than any mistake, punishment, or moment of despair.
If you or someone you know is struggling, please reach out. In India, contact Vandrevala Foundation Helpline (1860 2662 333) or iCall (9152987821).
This tragedy must not be remembered only for its horror—but as a wake-up call.
Because behind every screen is a soul.
And every soul deserves to be heard—before it’s too late.
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