Pune: A tragic incident unfolded in the Runal Gateway Society in Kiwale, Pune, where 15-year-old Arya Shrirav took his life by jumping from the 14th floor, driven by an addiction to mobile gaming.
Arya, a shy and academically bright student in the 10th grade at a prestigious school in Chinchwad, had been increasingly consumed by mobile games over the past few months. His father works abroad, and his mother is a homemaker.
Despite his intelligence and good academic record, Arya’s obsession with gaming led him to isolate himself, often locking himself in his room for long periods.
On July 25, with schools closed due to heavy rain, Arya spent the entire day engrossed in gaming. He only briefly emerged for dinner after much persuasion but returned to his room immediately. His mother, preoccupied with a younger sibling's fever, stayed awake late into the night.
Around 1 AM, a message on the society's WhatsApp group mentioned a boy falling and getting injured. Arya’s mother checked his room and found it empty, prompting her to rush downstairs. There, she discovered Arya in a pool of blood. Despite being rushed to the hospital, Arya was declared dead upon arrival.
A piece of paper with game-related coding language was found in his room, leading to ongoing police investigations to determine its significance. Upon learning of the incident, Arya’s father returned from abroad.
Senior Police Inspector Mahendra Kadam of Ravet Police Station stated, "The incident occurred in Kiwale. The boy was reportedly very reclusive. The exact reason behind this incident is under investigation."
