In Telangana's Nirmal district, a Class 10 student named Rishendra tragically took his own life after his parents confiscated his phone due to his addiction to the popular online game PUBG. The incident occurred on Thursday, August 21, 2025.

Rishendra, a ninth-grade student from Bhainsa, Nirmal district, Telangana, had become heavily addicted to PUBG. Concerned about his studies, his parents took away his phone a few days prior and advised him to focus on his academics. Unable to cope without playing the game, Rishendra died by suicide. This incident has deeply saddened the local community and has once again highlighted the serious issue of mobile phone and gaming addiction among young people. The police have registered a case and are investigating the matter.

This is not an isolated incident. In October 2024, a 16-year-old boy from Chhattisgarh's Dhamtari district died by suicide after being scolded by his father for spending too much time playing PUBG. He was a Class 10 student whose parents were worried about his excessive screen time as his board exams were approaching. His father took away his phone and told him to study. Hurt by this, the boy consumed poison and passed away in the hospital.

In August 2022, a 17-year-old boy in Bihar's Bhagalpur took his life after losing a PUBG game. Family sources claimed that he would get extremely upset whenever he lost. In July 2020, a 13-year-old boy in Pulwama, Kashmir, committed suicide after his father stopped him from playing PUBG. In another instance, a Class 10 student in Guwahati allegedly committed suicide after his mother locked away his cell phone due to his PUBG addiction. In Andhra Pradesh, a 15-year-old boy died by suicide after being mocked for losing a PUBG round. In April 2019, a Class 10 student in Telangana committed suicide after being scolded by his mother for playing PUBG.

These incidents highlight the dangers of excessive screen time and gaming addiction, particularly among young people. Parents are urged to monitor their children's mobile usage, especially during crucial exam periods. Police have also appealed to parents to keep tabs on what their children are watching and playing on mobile phones. It's crucial to address gaming addiction and provide support to those who may be struggling with it.