West Singhbhum, October 17 (Udaipur Kiran): The iron ore town of Kiriburu in Jharkhand’s West Singhbhum district is facing an unusual problem — a growing addiction to the online battle game PUBG among children. What was once a quiet forest area behind the Apex office has now turned into a “gaming zone,” where local youngsters secretly gather for hours to play online battles on their phones.
Locals say that CISF personnel have often tried to chase the children away and warn them of the dangers, but they keep returning. Despite the risk of snakes, scorpions, and wild insects in the forest, the children remain undeterred, completely absorbed in their “virtual wars.”
Mental health experts have raised concerns that violent online games like PUBG are having a serious impact on children’s behaviour, focus, and learning ability. They warn that such games lead to irritability, aggression, and social withdrawal, replacing real-world interactions with virtual engagement.
There is now a growing demand to launch awareness campaigns in schools about “digital addiction.” Teachers and social workers believe that parents must set clear limits on mobile phone use and encourage children to take up sports, music, or creative activities to gradually overcome this habit.
Social worker and teacher S.K. Pandey cautioned that “this is not just a game, but a threat to the future of our children.” He urged that society, families, and schools must work together to free young minds from this digital dependency before it becomes a larger social issue.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
