A 19-year-old teenager and his parents died after falling from a cliff in India following a three-hour dispute over payment for an iPhone. The incident occurred on Friday at Khawadya Hill in Tisgaon, near Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The teenager, Kunal Chandude, reportedly approached the cliff edge threatening to end his life after being unable to afford the monthly installments for a new iPhone he had purchased. His taxi-driver father had refused to provide money for the latest bill, which led to the argument.
Kunal made his way to the cliff around 10 a.m., followed by his parents, Murlidhar, 48, and Sangita, who were concerned for his safety. Police and local villagers spent three hours attempting to persuade Kunal to move away from the edge.
Distressing videos showed the teenager near the precipice as crowds pleaded with him. Firefighters had set up a net below in an attempt to catch him, but he moved along the edge, evading the safety measure.
Around 1 p.m., Murlidhar moved closer to his son in an effort to de-escalate the situation and pull him back. According to reports, this action caused Kunal to jump. Police stated that Murlidhar fell while trying to save his son, though some reports suggest he may have been pulled. Sangita, who had been observing from the cliff top, fell shortly after, with officials indicating she may have jumped.
Sangita, who managed a YouTube channel sharing 'motivational' content with approximately 29,000 followers, had reportedly posted the day before the incident: 'Be ready to give your fate but to that person who values you, who values your love. If a person does not value you, does not value your love, or does not value what you do for them, then there is no point in doing anything for such a person.'
District Collector and Magistrate Vinay Gowda reportedly said, 'The boy fell from the cliff and holding on to his father's hand, pulled him down with him.' An investigation into the incident has been opened, and the bodies were returned to the family following post-mortem examinations.