A 19-year-old and his parents died after falling from Khawadya Hill in India following a dispute over the purchase of an iPhone. Kunal Chandude allegedly threatened to jump from the cliff after an argument with his parents about the cost of the phone.
The incident occurred Friday near Tisgaon, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. According to reports, Kunal had purchased a new iPhone and intended to pay for it through monthly installments but later found himself unable to afford the ongoing costs. He reportedly asked his taxi-driver father, Murlidhar Chandude, 48, for money to cover the bill, but his father refused, leading to a disagreement.
Kunal then made his way to Khawadya Hill, with his parents, Murlidhar and Sangita Chandude, following closely behind out of concern for his safety. Police and local villagers attempted to negotiate with the teenager for three hours, urging him to move away from the cliff's edge. Videos circulating online showed Kunal standing near the precipice while crowds pleaded with him, and his mother knelt in distress.
Firefighters had reportedly set up a net below Kunal in an attempt to catch him, but he continued to move along the edge, staying out of reach. Around 1 p.m., Murlidhar approached his son in an effort to deescalate the situation and pull him away from the edge. This action, however, reportedly caused Kunal to jump. According to police, Murlidhar also fell from the cliff while trying to save his son, although some reports suggest he may have been pulled. Sangita, who had been observing from the cliff top, fell shortly after, with officials suggesting she jumped. Sangita Chandude was known for her YouTube channel, which shared 'motivational' content and had approximately 29,000 followers.
District Collector and Magistrate Vinay Gowda stated that the boy fell, and by holding his father's hand, pulled him down with him. An investigation into the incident is underway, and the bodies have been returned to their relatives following post-mortem examinations.