Three sisters—Nishika, 16; Prachi, 14; and Pakhi, 12—died after jumping from the ninth-floor balcony of their apartment near New Delhi on Feb. 4. An eight-page suicide note reportedly cited an intense attachment to a Korean-style online romance game that parents had recently barred them from using. Authorities say no specific game title has been confirmed and have opened legal proceedings while continuing to investigate and interview family members.
Three Teen Sisters Jump From Ninth-Floor Balcony Near New Delhi After Parents Block Access To Online Game, Police Say
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Three sisters died after leaping from the ninth-floor balcony of their family apartment on the outskirts of New Delhi in the early hours of Feb. 4, authorities said.
Victims: The girls were identified as Nishika, 16; Prachi, 14; and Pakhi, 12. Police and local media reported that all three were pronounced dead at the scene and taken to Loni Hospital, where they were declared dead.
Uttar Pradesh Police (UPP) officers responded at about 2:15 a.m. local time after receiving reports that "three girls had jumped from the balcony of the ninth floor." Investigators say the sisters jumped one after another and left an eight-page suicide note in a diary addressed to their parents.
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Local reporting and police statements indicate the note described a deep attachment to online gaming and an "extreme" interest in Korean culture. An excerpt published by local outlets reads:
"You tried to distance us from Koreans, but now you know how much we love Koreans."
The girls had reportedly been playing a Korean-themed romance mobile game on their father's phone until access to the device was restricted by their parents in recent days. Their father, Chetan Kumar, told local media he was unaware of the game’s details and expressed regret, saying he would not have allowed it had he known more about it.
Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patel said the investigation has not confirmed the name of any specific game. "The investigation so far has not revealed any specific game name. But it is clear that the girls were influenced by Korean culture and have mentioned it in the suicide note," he told reporters.
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Family members and local outlets say the sisters’ interest in Korean culture and the game intensified during the COVID-19 pandemic; the girls reportedly began missing school during that period and had stopped attending about two years ago.
Police said legal proceedings are under way and investigators are continuing to gather evidence and interview family members. Authorities have called for a careful, thorough inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the deaths.
Note on reporting: Details in this account are drawn from public statements by the Uttar Pradesh Police and local news reporting. Investigations are ongoing and officials have not yet released all findings.
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