In a deeply distressing incident from Lucknow’s Mohanlalganj area, a 12-year-old boy died by suicide after allegedly spending his family’s life savings on the online game Free Fire. The Class 6 student, Yash Kumar, was found hanging in his room just hours after confessing to his father that he had lost the money. The tragedy unfolded at BIPS School, where he was enrolled, prompting the school management to declare a holiday on September 16 as a mark of condolence.
According to police, Yash’s father, Suresh Kumar Yadav, a painter by profession, had deposited around ₹13 lakh in Union Bank’s Bijnor branch two years ago after selling a piece of land. On Monday, he was shocked to find that the entire sum had vanished. Subsequent inquiries revealed that the money had been spent on gaming transactions. When questioned, Yash initially denied responsibility but later admitted that he had lost the money while playing Free Fire.
Despite the enormity of the loss, Suresh did not scold his son and instead tried to console him, urging him not to worry. Yash’s tuition teacher also reassured the family that he would help guide the boy. However, shortly after this discussion, Yash went to his room and took the extreme step.
The family rushed him to a community health centre, where doctors declared him dead. His sudden death left the household shattered — his mother, Vimla, fainted upon hearing the news, and his sister, Gunjan, was inconsolable. Police have sent the body for post-mortem examination and are investigating the matter further.
The heartbreaking incident has not only devastated Yash’s family but also raised urgent concerns about the unchecked influence of online gaming on children, the lack of parental controls, and the devastating consequences such addictions can bring.
