Surat,: A 13-year-old boy allegedly died by suicide in Surat’s Rander area on Monday evening after his mother reprimanded him for playing a game on his mobile phone when the family was about to have dinner, police said.
The tragic incident has left the family devastated and has also raised concerns about children’s emotional wellbeing and their growing dependence on mobile phones.
Mother asked him to stop playing and have dinner
According to police, the boy was playing a game on his mobile phone when his mother asked him to put the phone away and have dinner.
The boy and his elder sister then sat down to eat, while their mother briefly stepped out of their apartment to meet neighbours.
Around 20 minutes later, she returned and found her son unresponsive in the common staircase area, police said.
He was taken to a nearby doctor’s clinic, where he was declared dead. His body was later sent to New Civil Hospital for a post-mortem examination.
Police say the exact reason is not known
Rander police inspector T B Pandya said the boy may have felt hurt after being reprimanded, but the exact circumstances that led to the tragedy have not yet been established.
The boy was studying in Class 7. His maternal uncle said the mother had reprimanded both children that evening.
Similar case raises concern over phone use
The incident comes after another case in Surat last month involving a 13-year-old boy who allegedly died by suicide after his parents asked him to put his phone aside and complete his homework.
Child psychiatrist Dr Mukul Choksi advised parents to keep an eye on the content children watch and the games they play on their phones.
The incidents highlight the importance of parents staying connected with children and encouraging them to speak openly when they are upset, worried or struggling with difficult emotions.
The circumstances surrounding the boy’s death remain under investigation.