A 28‑year‑old resident of Raipur district, Chhattisgarh, was found dead on Tuesday after reportedly attempting to end her life following a sudden loss of internet connectivity.
Friends and neighbours said the woman had become increasingly absorbed in short‑form video reels on social media platforms. According to a local shopkeeper, she would spend hours scrolling, often neglecting household chores and meals.
On the evening of 6 September, the area experienced a brief but widespread internet disruption caused by a technical fault at a nearby service provider. Witnesses claim the woman grew agitated as the reels stopped playing, and she expressed distress over the interruption.
Later that night, neighbours heard loud cries and found the woman on the floor of her bedroom with a self‑inflicted wound. Police arrived, confirmed the cause of death as suicide, and sealed the scene for further investigation.
Local officials have not released the woman's name, citing family privacy. However, the incident has sparked a conversation among community leaders about the growing influence of digital content on mental health, especially in rural areas where internet access can be erratic.
Health workers in the district have urged residents to seek counseling if they notice signs of obsessive online behaviour. The district medical officer emphasized the need for awareness programmes that address both the benefits and risks of excessive screen time.
While authorities continue to probe the technical glitch that triggered the outage, the tragedy underscores a broader challenge: balancing connectivity with mental‑wellbeing in an increasingly digital society.
Image for illustration purposes only
📰 Source: The Hindu National