Ghaziabad suicide horror: What is Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), recognised as a disease by WHO?

• Three sisters in Ghaziabad died by suicide linked to gaming disorder concerns
• Incident highlights rising cases of Internet Gaming Disorder among Indian youth
• Experts call for stricter age limits, parental guidance to curb digital addiction

Did our AI summary help?

In a Ghaziabad residential tower, a family's worst digital fears culminated in unspeakable tragedy. Three sisters, aged 12, 14 and 16, died by suicide after jumping from their ninth-floor home — a loss authorities have linked to distress over mobile phone usage and an immersive Korean love simulation game.

This incident has ignited a pressing national conversation, bringing into acute focus a recognised but often misunderstood medical condition: Internet Gaming Disorder (IGD), classified as a disease by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 2018.

The WHO defines gaming disorder in its International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as “a pattern of gaming behaviour (‘digital-gaming’ or ‘video-gaming’) characterized by impaired control over gaming, increasing priority given to gaming over other activities to the extent that gaming takes precedence over other interests and daily activities and continuation or escalation of gaming despite the occurrence of negative consequences.”

This clinical definition mirrors the tragic narrative emerging from Ghaziabad, where an immersive digital pastime appears to have escalated into a harmful preoccupation. The disorder extends far beyond mere overuse.

Mental health experts explain that it manifests through severe psychological issues, including heightened anxiety, depression and social isolation. The physical toll is equally concerning, with sufferers frequently experiencing eye strain, persistent musculoskeletal pain and severe sleep disturbances.

The cascading effects often include intense relationship stress, neglect of personal responsibilities and a sharp decline in academic or professional performance.

This incident underscores a critical and growing public health challenge in India, which currently hosts the world’s second-largest internet-using population. While the Ghaziabad case is under investigation, it exemplifies the extreme potential outcomes of a behavioural addiction that families may struggle to identify until a crisis occurs.

The sisters' immersion in a specific, emotionally engaging game genre highlights how certain digital environments can profoundly blur the lines between virtual engagement and real-world consequences, particularly for adolescents.

The tragedy resonates with alarming data emerging from states like Gujarat, where clinics have reported a nearly 20% annual increase in IGD cases, treating over 400 new patients each month. Specialists note that the demographic most at risk nationally are teenagers and young adults, with prevalence studies suggesting between 3% and 15% of India’s estimated 568 million gamers could be vulnerable.

In response to the escalating crisis of digital dependency, the government’s recent Economic Survey has advocated for stringent measures, including age-based access limits and greater platform accountability for age verification. The call for action emphasises that younger users are uniquely susceptible to compulsive use and the psychological risks of harmful content.

The Ghaziabad tragedy is a sombre reminder that Internet Gaming Disorder is not a matter of simple willpower but a complex behavioural health condition with serious real-world implications. It spotlights the urgent need for enhanced public awareness, robust parental guidance and informed policy interventions to navigate the pervasive digital landscape safeguarding the mental well-being of India’s youth.