Himalaya Harbinger, Rudrapur Bureau.
An 18-year-old Class 12 student from Adarsh Colony tragically ended his life on Tuesday night, allegedly driven to suicide by mounting debts from online gaming. The incident underscores the alarming consequences of unchecked gaming addiction.
The deceased, the youngest of three siblings, was the son of a modest tea and grocery stall owner. According to his uncle, the teenager had been battling an addiction to online gaming for over a year. “He promised to quit after we confronted him, but he continued playing secretly. None of us knew he was borrowing money to fund his gaming,” the uncle revealed.
Over the past year, the teenager had been taking loans to participate in online games, only to face consistent losses. This financial strain led to severe mental distress, which became evident to his family in recent days as they noticed his growing withdrawal and anxious demeanor.
Before his family could act, the teenager consumed poison late Tuesday night. He was initially rushed to the district hospital in Rudrapur but was transferred to Sushila Tiwari Hospital (STH) as his condition worsened. Despite the doctors’ best efforts, he succumbed during treatment.
The tragedy serves as a poignant reminder of the urgent need to address online gaming addiction and its psychological ramifications.
