Maharashtra teen dies after falling from cliff during iPhone dispute; father falls trying to save him and mother jumps moments later; entire family of three killed.
Webdesk- Madiha Bhatti
What Happened
An 18-year-old and both his parents died on Friday after a prolonged standoff on a hill in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district ended in a fatal fall. The incident occurred at Khavdya Hill near Tisgaon under Waluj MIDC police limits.
The Dispute
Police said the teenager, identified as Kunal Chandgude, had been arguing with his parents over an iPhone. Reports indicate either a demand for a new phone or difficulty meeting EMI payments on one already purchased. His father, a driver and the family’s sole earner, was unable to meet the financial request. After the argument the youth left home and climbed the hill around 10 am.
Three-Hour Standoff
Kunal remained near the cliff edge for nearly three hours. His mother Sangeeta, father Murlidhar, local villagers, police and fire-brigade personnel repeatedly pleaded with him to step back. Eyewitnesses said he refused, telling those present there was only one solution. Offers of help, including promises to arrange a phone, did not change his position.
The Fatal Moments
Around 1 pm the father climbed closer and tried to pull his son away from the edge. Both lost balance and fell into the gorge. Moments later the mother, who had watched the scene, also fell from the same cliff. All three died. Safety nets had been prepared below but could not be positioned in time because the youth kept moving along the edge.
Official Response
Bodies were recovered and sent for post-mortem. Police have registered a case under provisions for unnatural deaths and are examining the exact sequence of events. District officials confirmed the tragedy stemmed from the phone-related dispute and the family’s financial limitations.
Aftermath
The incident has drawn widespread attention for the speed with which a domestic argument escalated into the loss of an entire family. Local residents and officials described the three-hour effort to talk the teenager down as intense but ultimately unsuccessful. Investigations continue.
