A family dispute reportedly linked to the payment of instalments for a mobile phone ended in a devastating tragedy in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where an 18-year-old and both his parents died after falling from a hill.
According to police, the teenager, identified as Kunal, had purchased an iPhone and was allegedly facing difficulty in paying its monthly EMI instalments. An argument reportedly broke out at home over the payment, following which he left the house and climbed a hill in the Tisgaon area under the jurisdiction of Waluj MIDC Police Station.
The incident reportedly began at around 10 am, when Kunal reached the hill and threatened to jump from the edge. His parents, Murlidhar Chandgude and Sangeeta, followed him to the location. Local residents and others who gathered at the spot also joined efforts to convince him to come down safely.
Videos recorded during the tense standoff have since circulated widely on social media. In one of the videos, people can be heard urging the teenager to think about his mother and reconsider his decision. Several people reportedly tried to reassure him and persuade him to step away from the edge, with some even offering to arrange another phone for him.
A former sarpanch of Tisgaon village, Sanjay Jadhav, was among those attempting to calm the teenager. According to accounts from the scene, Kunal remained unwilling to come down despite repeated appeals from family members and local residents.
Father Attempts to Save Son
The efforts to bring Kunal to safety continued for nearly three hours. At around 1 pm, his father reportedly climbed to the spot where the teenager was standing and attempted to physically pull him away from the edge.
However, during the struggle, both father and son reportedly lost their balance and plunged into the gorge below.
Moments after witnessing the fall, Kunal’s mother, Sangeeta, also jumped from the hill, police said.
All three were declared dead following the incident. Police recovered the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examination.
Investigation Underway
Police have registered a case and initiated further legal proceedings. Officials are continuing to examine the circumstances surrounding the family dispute and the events that led to the tragedy.
The incident was witnessed by several local residents and visitors, many of whom remained at the site during the prolonged effort to persuade Kunal to come down. Videos from the scene captured portions of the emotional standoff.
Authorities have not yet provided further details regarding the teenager’s state of mind or confirmed reports suggesting that he may have been dealing with depression. The investigation is ongoing.
