Chhattisgarh woman 'addicted to reels' ends life after internet disruption
A 52-year-old woman in Chhattisgarh died by suicide after experiencing frustration over repeated internet connectivity issues while watching social media reels. Local police are investigating the incident, which occurred after the woman damaged her phone in a fit of anger.
Why it matters
The incident highlights the growing psychological impact of digital dependency and the potential for extreme behavioral reactions to minor technological disruptions.
“A 52-year-old woman, allegedly addicted to watching reels on her mobile phone, ended her life after apparently being upset over repeated disruptions in internet connectivity in Chhattisgarh 's Korba district,” police said on Tuesday (September 8, 2026).
“The woman, identified as Manglo Bai Sarathi, allegedly attempted to end her life at her house in Kerakachhar village under the Kartala police station limits on Saturday (September 5, 2026) and succumbed during treatment on Monday (September 7, 2026),” they said.
According to her family, Sarathi was addicted to reels. She was watching them on her mobile phone when the network repeatedly disappeared, causing the videos to stop. “Upset over the disrupted internet connection, she allegedly threw her mobile phone on the ground, damaging it,” a police official said.
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