Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar: A family dispute over an iPhone loan instalment ended in a devastating tragedy in Maharashtra, where a 19-year-old teenager and both his parents died after falling from a hilltop, according to officials.
The incident took place at Kohdya Dongar in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar area on Friday. The teenager, identified as Kunal Chandgude, had reportedly gone to the hill after an argument with his father over difficulties in paying the instalments for an iPhone he had recently purchased.
According to officials, Kunal reached the hill at around 10 am and stood near the edge of a cliff, threatening to take his own life. Local residents noticed him and tried to convince him to move away from the dangerous spot. Police and fire department personnel also reached the location, while the village sarpanch joined the efforts to persuade him.
A video that has since emerged shows Kunal's mother, Sangeeta, making desperate attempts to save her son. She reportedly pleaded with him for hours, assuring him that the family's problems could be resolved. At one point, she moved towards him and extended her hand, hoping he would come back from the edge.
Officials said Kunal repeatedly expressed hopelessness, telling his mother that nobody listened to him and that he saw no solution to his problems.
When the teenager refused to move away from the cliff despite repeated appeals, his father, Murlidhar, eventually stepped forward to pull him back. However, both reportedly lost their balance and fell around 250 feet from the hill.
Sangeeta then jumped from the same location a few seconds later, according to officials.
The deaths have left the local community shocked. Neighbours said the family had moved to Ekdant Nagar in Zhalta village around four months earlier and generally kept to themselves. They were reportedly very attached to their pet dog.
A neighbour said the dog has continued waiting at the family's home, appearing to expect them to return.
Police and other authorities are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident. The tragedy has also raised concerns about the importance of timely emotional support and intervention when someone shows signs of severe distress.
Reader Comments 0