"Gaming Addict Teen in Pune Jumps from 14th Floor, Leaves Note Saying 'Log Out'"

PUNE TEEN JUMPS FROM 14th FLOOR

A 15-year-old boy in Pune, reportedly influenced by the notorious "Blue Whale" game, tragically took his own life by jumping from the 14th floor of a building. The boy, Arya Srirao, left behind a note with the word "logout" written on it.

Police investigations revealed that Arya, a class-10 student from Pimpri Chinchwad, had been increasingly obsessed with online gaming in recent months, isolating himself and spending excessive time on his laptop. Deputy Commissioner of Police Swapna Gore confirmed that Arya’s note also included “XD,” which may refer to an online game he was playing. The boy's notebook contained maps of his home, coded notes, and a list of players. One paper detailed a multiplayer combat game and included a sketch of his apartment, pinpointing where he intended to jump from.

Arya's father, Umesh Srirao, has called on parents to be more vigilant about their children's online activities. He noted that Arya had been secretive, even deleting his laptop’s search history.

Arya's mother, Swati Srirao, learned of her son's death through their society's WhatsApp group. She expressed shock, noting that her son, who had always been hesitant and afraid of heights, had jumped from such a great height. She was caring for her ill younger son at the time of the incident. Swati mentioned Arya's increasing fixation on dark thoughts and morbid music, with him often expressing sentiments like, "Life and death are the same."

This tragedy has reignited concerns about the "Blue Whale" game, a social media phenomenon known for assigning deadly tasks over a period of 50 days, culminating in a final suicide challenge. The game first made headlines in India in July 2017, with the death of 14-year-old Manpreet Singh Sahni from Mumbai, and has been linked to numerous suicides globally.