Ghaziabad Tragedy: Three Sisters Jump from Ninth-Floor Apartment, Diary Exposes Korean Culture Obsession and Family Strife
In a heartbreaking incident that has shocked the community, three sisters aged 12, 14, and 16 died after jumping from the balcony of their ninth-floor apartment in Ghaziabad during the early hours of Wednesday. Police investigations have revealed a complex web of prolonged social isolation, intense family conflicts, and an inner world the children had meticulously built around South Korean popular culture.
Diary and Notes Paint a Picture of Profound Loneliness
The girls—identified as Nishika (16), Prachi (14), and Pakhi (12)—left behind a diary and several handwritten notes that provide chilling insights into their emotional state. One note explicitly instructed: “Read everything written in this diary, it is all here”, accompanied by a reference to a crying face emoji. Another poignant message read: “Sorry papa, I am really sorry.”
Investigators discovered writings on the walls of the room where the sisters spent most of their time, further highlighting their deep-seated loneliness. Phrases scribbled included: “I am very, very alone”, “My life is very very alone”, and “Make me a heart of broken”. Police noted that the sisters had not attended school for nearly two years and remained almost entirely confined to their home, relying solely on each other for companionship.
Immersion in Korean Culture and Parental Disapproval
According to police reports, the three girls lived largely cut off from the outside world following the Covid-19 pandemic. They were not homeschooled, did not participate in outdoor activities within their society compound, and were inseparable, often referring to one another by names inspired by television shows—Maria, Aliza, and Cindy. Their emotional refuge, authorities believe, was deeply rooted in South Korean popular culture.
The diary, likely authored by the 14-year-old and currently undergoing forensic analysis, details the sisters' immersion in K-pop, Korean dramas, and online games. It also expresses their resentment toward repeated parental disapproval. “You don't know how much we loved Korea, now see the proof. Now it’s confirmed here that Korean and K-pop groups are our life. The way we loved Korean actors and K-pop groups, we didn't even love family members that much,” the sisters wrote.
The diary lists 19 items their parents allegedly disapproved of, encompassing music and actors from Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, America, and Britain, as well as cartoon shows like Shin-chan and Doraemon, and mobile games.
Family Conflict Over Four-Year-Old Half-Sister
A significant point of contention involved their four-year-old half-sister, referred to as Devu in the diary. The girls expressed anger over parental interference when they attempted to introduce her to what they termed their “Korean relatives.” “You made her Bollywood, which we hated more than life itself,” they wrote, describing an incident where a parent objected to them teaching Devu about Korean culture. This episode reportedly led the sisters to distance themselves from the younger child.
The diary also contains ambiguous references to physical punishment, with passages such as: “Did we live in this world to get beaten by you… death would be better for us than beatings.” Another entry mentions marriage, a subject the girls were too young for, stating: “The mention of marriage caused tension in our hearts.”
Strained Family Circumstances and Father's Account
Police revealed that the family's circumstances were strained. The girls' father, Chetan Kumar, a stock trader, is believed to be in significant debt. Investigators noted that he had taken away and sold the eldest daughter's mobile phone approximately 15 days before the tragic incident.
Kumar acknowledged the girls' intense fascination with Korean culture, stating: “They listened to Korean music, watched Korean films, dramas, web series and cartoons. They also wanted to go to Korea. All three girls wanted us to accept Korean culture, but when we refused, their behaviour towards us changed and they went into a shell. They lived in their own world.” He told police he was asleep in an adjoining room and woke up after hearing screams.
The household comprised five children and three women who are sisters. Kumar claims to have married all three women. The eldest deceased girl and a younger son were from his first wife, while the 14- and 12-year-old girls were from her younger sister. Devu, the four-year-old mentioned in the diary, is the daughter of the youngest sister.
Investigation Points to Final Trigger
Investigators suggest that the final trigger for the tragic decision may have been the parents' refusal to allow the girls to involve Devu in their interest in Korean culture, coupled with the younger child's growing inclination toward Bollywood instead. The police have emphasized that the investigation is ongoing, with forensic analysis of the diary expected to provide further clarity.
This devastating case underscores critical issues surrounding teenage mental health, the impacts of social isolation, and the complexities of family dynamics in contemporary urban India. It serves as a stark reminder of the need for greater awareness and support systems to address the emotional well-being of adolescents navigating intense personal interests and familial expectations.
