A quiet tragedy I wish none of us had to read
I write this with a heavy heart. According to police and media reports from Ghaziabad, three sisters — aged 16, 14 and 12 — died after jumping from the ninth floor of their apartment building in the early hours of 4 February 2026. A handwritten note recovered at the scene reportedly contained the words, “Read everything in diary… I’m really sorry. Sorry, papa,” and other pages that, police say, described the girls’ deep involvement with an online game NDTV News18.
There are no easy words for a loss like this. I want to be careful with language: I will not describe the physical details of what happened. My aim here is to honour the human pain behind the headlines, to summarise what has been reported by authorities and media, and to use this moment to talk about how we, as families and communities, can notice distress earlier and offer help.
What the reports say — factual, attributed and limited
- Location: Bharat City township, Ghaziabad (reported under police/media coverage).
- Timing: reported in the early hours of 4 February 2026.
- What is publicly reported: three sisters, all minors, were found to have died after leaving their apartment’s ninth-floor window; a handwritten note with an apology addressed to parents and a diary were recovered at the scene. Media and police reports also note that the girls had been spending substantial time on a task-based online game and had missed school for an extended period Times of India Hindustan Times.
I repeat: these are reports from police and media. Investigations are ongoing. It is important not to turn preliminary statements into certain causes before official findings are concluded.
Context — common pressures that can contribute to crisis (without assigning blame)
When young people reach a crisis point, it is rarely a single cause. Reporting in this incident has highlighted themes that we see in many similar tragedies — and that public conversations should address thoughtfully:
- Mental health struggles that go unrecognised or untreated.
- Family conflict or restrictive responses that leave children feeling trapped.
- Academic disruption and isolation, especially after COVID-era schooling interruptions.
- Excessive, compulsive use of online platforms or games that can distort routines and social connection.
These are not explanations for this specific case beyond what investigators report; they are common drivers observed more broadly. We must avoid simplistic blame. Instead, we should focus on prevention: how to recognise distress and how to intervene with care.
Signs someone may be thinking about suicide
Watchfulness can save lives. If someone you care about shows several of the following changes, take them seriously:
- Persistent withdrawal from family, friends, or activities they used to enjoy.
- Talk about being hopeless, trapped, a burden, or saying goodbye.
- Sudden calm after a period of depression (can mean a decision has been made).
- Changes in sleeping or eating patterns, or severe mood swings.
- Increased risk-taking or self-harm behaviors, or giving away prized possessions.
- Preoccupation with death or writing notes/diaries that suggest finality.
If these signs appear, do not wait for a “better” time to ask how they are and offer help.
How to support someone who seems in crisis
- Ask directly and compassionately: "Are you thinking of ending your life?" — asking does not give someone the idea; it opens a door.
- Listen without judgement. Allow them to speak and validate feelings ("That sounds unbearably hard").
- Remove immediate means if you safely can, and do not leave them alone if risk seems high.
- Help them connect with professional support right away — offer to call or go with them.
- Follow up. Small, repeated acts of connection make a difference.
If a child or teenager is involved, involve a trusted mental health professional and, where appropriate, child protection services — and try to keep lines of calm, steady communication open with caregivers.
If you are in immediate danger or extremely worried
- If someone is at imminent risk, call local emergency services right away (in India dial 112).
- Reach out to a crisis or suicide prevention helpline. If you are in distress, please contact help now — you do not have to carry this alone.
National and widely used helplines in India (please call if you need immediate support)
- National Mental Health Helpline (KIRAN): 1800-599-0019 (24/7)
- AASRA: +91-9820466726 (suicide prevention support)
- Vandrevala Foundation: 9999666555 (mental health helpline)
- Sumaitri (Delhi): 011-23389090
- Sneha (Chennai): 044-24640050
- Emergency services: 112
Please verify local resources and, where possible, reach out to a nearby mental health professional or trusted community leader when you can.
A note from my earlier work
In earlier writing I have urged stricter attention to children’s online exposure and better systems to protect vulnerable young users — not to criminalise them, but to build channels of support, supervision and age-appropriate boundaries Over-doze of info to underage kids. That argument feels painfully relevant today: regulation, education, parental support and mental health services must all be strengthened together.
What I hope we can do now
- Let this be a moment to move beyond outrage and into sustained action — improving mental health access in schools and neighbourhoods, training parents and teachers to spot warning signs, and building safe ways for children to talk about distress.
- Avoid sensationalising the methods or assigning blame to single factors in early reporting. That approach can re-traumatise families and mislead the public.
- If you are carrying pain today, tell someone. If you are worried about someone, reach out and keep reaching out.
If you are in immediate distress, please seek help now. You are not alone.
Regards,
Hemen Parekh
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