Youth attempts suicide after losing Rs 5 lakh in online game

Balasore: Sourajit Ray, 44, a resident of Teghari village in Chamaragaon panchayat under Raibania police limits and Jaleswar block, attempted suicide Saturday after reportedly losing nearly Rs 5 lakh to online gaming. Ray, a former software engineer who had been working in Chennai, returned to his village a few months ago after quitting his job.

He began giving private tuition to support his family. During this period, he became addicted to a mobile game known as Zupee Online Ludo. Initially, Ray lost small amounts of money in the game, but driven by the hope of recovering his losses, he continued to play.

Eventually, he resorted to borrowing money from friends, selling rice and paddy from the household stock, and even using his elderly mother’s pension to fund his addiction. Despite his efforts, he continued to lose money in the game. The financial strain and stress led to a state of mental despair.

Overwhelmed by his situation, Ray attempted to take his life by slashing his hands and neck with a knife Saturday morning. Family members discovered him bleeding in an unconscious state. He was immediately rushed to the GK Bhattar Hospital in Jaleswar.

Due to the critical nature of his injuries, he was later referred to the Balasore District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) for further treatment.

PNN

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