Three young sisters plunged to their deaths in a shocking early-morning tragedy after their parents took away their phone. The girls, aged 12, 14 and 16, jumped from the ninth floor of their family’s flat in Uttar Pradesh, India. They left behind a heartbreaking note that read simply: “Sorry, Papa.”

The horrific scene unfolded at around 2.15am in Bharat City, Ghaziabad. Neighbours and security guards heard screams, then the sickening thud of bodies hitting the ground. Their parents forced open a locked balcony door, only to discover their daughters had already jumped.

Police believe the tragedy is linked to the girls’ obsession with a Korean online game and Korean culture. The sisters — Pakhi, 12, Prachi, 14, and Vishika, 16 — are said to have leapt one by one from the balcony. The impact stunned the local community and sparked renewed fears over online gaming addiction.

Assistant Commissioner of Police Atul Kumar Singh confirmed the deaths. “When we arrived at the scene, we confirmed that three girls, daughters of Chetan Kumar, had died after jumping from the building,” he said. Officers sealed off the area as devastated relatives gathered.

Inside the flat, police discovered an eight-page handwritten note, Indian media reported. The pages contained repeated apologies to their father and references to their devotion to Korean culture and gaming. One line read, “I’m sorry, Papa,” alongside a hand-drawn crying emoji.

Their father, Chetan Kumar, told police the girls had made their feelings clear. “Papa, Korea is our life, Korea is our biggest love, whatever you say, we cannot give it up,” they had told him. Investigators say the sisters had stopped attending school nearly two years ago and had become “highly addicted” to a mobile game.

The Covid pandemic is believed to have deepened their isolation and intensified their gaming habits. Police say the girls spent increasing amounts of time on their phones and withdrew from normal routines. Their world narrowed to online activity and Korean pop culture.

In recent days, their parents had restricted their screen time. Officers believe the sudden denial of phone access may have been the trigger. Deputy Commissioner of Police Nimish Patil said: “They had been denied access to a mobile phone for the past few days, a restriction that appeared to have affected them.”

A grieving Chetan Kumar spoke of his anguish and regret. “Neither a parent nor a child should experience this. Children shouldn’t be allowed to play such games. I would never have allowed them if I had known,” he said. His words captured the raw pain of a family shattered overnight.

Police are now examining the girls’ phones and diaries to determine the exact nature of the game involved. Authorities have not named the game in official press releases. The investigation is ongoing as officers try to piece together the final hours leading up to the tragedy.

The case has drawn comparisons in India to past fears over dangerous online challenges. It echoes concerns sparked by the so-called ‘Blue Whale game,’ which was linked to reports of teenage suicides in 2013. While no incidents were ever officially confirmed, the name became a symbol of parental anxiety around online influence.

This latest tragedy has reignited debate over children’s screen time and online safety. As investigators continue their work, a devastated community is left asking how three young lives could be lost so suddenly.

Key Takeaways

• Three sisters, aged 12, 14 and 16, jumped from a ninth-floor flat after a phone ban.

• Police link the tragedy to extreme gaming addiction and obsession with Korean culture.

• An eight-page note saying “Sorry, Papa” has intensified heartbreak and scrutiny.

Horror as three sisters jump to their deaths after mobile phones are confiscated

A mobile phone was relatively safer than them going out to meet boys (from the parent's point of view I imagine).