Three members of a family died in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Friday after a dispute over a mobile phone was followed by a sequence of fatal falls from a hill.

The deceased were identified as 48-year-old Murlidhar Chandgude, his wife Sangita and their 19-year-old son Kunal, residents of Zalta Phata. The incident took place at Khavda Hill in Tisgaon, within the Waluj MIDC police station limits.

Dispute over iPhone instalments

According to police, the incident began around 10 am when Kunal went up the hill following an argument with his parents. He had bought an iPhone and was seeking money from his family to pay its instalments, with the latest payment reportedly triggering the dispute.

Kunal then remained near the edge of the hill, prompting his parents and local residents to try to persuade him to return home. Police and fire brigade personnel also reached the spot as the effort continued for nearly three hours.

Tourists and villagers gathered at the location, and parts of the standoff were captured on mobile phone cameras.

Rescue effort ends in tragedy

Fire brigade personnel attempted to place a safety net at the base of the hill. However, Kunal kept moving along the cliff edge, making the rescue difficult.

Around 1 pm, Murlidhar climbed towards his son after spending much of the ordeal trying to reason with him from below. When Kunal moved towards the edge and fell from the steep hill, his father attempted to save him. Both lost their balance and fell into the gorge, police said.

Sangita, who witnessed her husband and son fall, also fell from the hill moments later.

All three died in the incident. Police recovered their bodies and sent them for post-mortem examination.

A case has been registered and further legal proceedings are underway. Police have not shared further details about the family dispute or confirmed reports concerning Kunal’s mental health.

(Disclaimer: If you or someone you know is experiencing emotional distress, mental health challenges, or thoughts of self-harm, seek professional support without delay. You can contact Tele-MANAS, a 24x7 mental health helpline by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, at 14416 or 1800-891-4416.)