A family dispute involving an iPhone ended in tragedy in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, where a teenager and both his parents died after falling from a hill on Friday. Parts of the hours-long effort to persuade the teenager to move away from the cliff were captured on video, according to reports.
The incident took place at a hill in the Tisgaon area, which falls under the jurisdiction of the Waluj MIDC police station. The family has been identified as Kunal Chandgude, his 48-year-old father Murlidhar Chandgude and his mother Sangita Chandgude, residents of the Zalta Phata area.
Dispute over iPhone preceded hill tragedy
Police said a disagreement involving an iPhone and the family’s financial situation preceded the incident. Reports differ slightly on the circumstances: India Today reported that Kunal wanted a new iPhone that his father could not afford to buy, while NDTV reported that the teenager had already purchased an iPhone and was seeking money from his family to cover instalment payments.
Following the argument, Kunal reportedly went to the hill at around 10 a.m. His parents followed him and attempted to convince him to come back. Police, villagers and fire brigade personnel later joined the effort, which continued for nearly three hours. Officials reportedly attempted to position a safety net, but rescuers struggled as the teenager continued moving near the cliff edge.
At around 1 p.m., Murlidhar approached his son and attempted to pull him away from the edge. Police said Kunal fell from the hill and his father also fell while trying to save him. Sangita, after witnessing what had happened to her husband and son, also died after falling from the hill shortly afterward.
Video captures moments before the fatal falls
A video recorded during the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar incident reportedly shows residents attempting to talk Kunal away from the edge before the tragedy unfolded. Several local residents and tourists had gathered at the location during the rescue attempt.
The bodies of the teenager and his parents were recovered and sent for post-mortem examinations. Police have registered a case and said further investigation and legal proceedings are underway.
🔴Hindistan'ın Maharaştra eyaletinde iPhone talebi reddedildiği için intihara kalkışan 18 yaşındaki genç ile onu kurtarmaya çalışan anne ve babası uçurumdan düşerek hayatını kaybetti. pic.twitter.com/Ui7DGLvWsD
— Selâmi Haktan (@slmhktn) August 21, 2026
Add Comment