A 19-year-old boy and his parents died after falling from a hill in India following an argument over a new cellphone. The incident occurred on Friday, Aug. 21, in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, according to The Indian Express, citing a police report.
Argument Over Cellphone Payment Led to Hilltop Confrontation
At around 10 a.m. local time, Kunal Chandgude went up Khawadya Hill after arguing with his parents about a payment for a new cellphone he had purchased. His father, Murlidhar, 48, and mother Sangita followed him as he threatened to jump while standing on the edge of a cliff, according to the outlet.
Police and fire personnel arrived at the scene and spent three hours trying to convince the teenager to return home with his parents, The Indian Express reported. The situation escalated around 1 p.m. when Murlidhar moved closer to his son to try to pull him away from the edge.
Sequence of Falls and Rescue Efforts
At that moment, Kunal allegedly jumped to his death. His father then fell to his death while attempting to save him. The mother quickly followed, jumping to her death after witnessing her husband and son fall, according to The Indian Express. The bodies were recovered by police and sent for post-mortem examination.
Witness Sanjay Jadhav told NDTV, “The parents and others tried very hard to make him understand, but he didn’t listen and kept standing on the edge of the hill. Police officials were also there.” Jadhav also recalled, “The mother kept pleading with him not to jump.”
Family Background and Prior Loss
Kunal’s parents were reportedly living separately after their eldest son died from an illness six years prior, according to NDTV. The day before the tragic incident, Sangita posted a video on YouTube saying there is “no point in doing anything for a person who does not value love,” per NDTV. She had over 30,000 subscribers and regularly posted mini-vlogs featuring her son.
The deaths highlight the emotional toll of family disputes and the irreversible consequences of impulsive actions. Authorities have not announced further investigations beyond the post-mortem examination.
