Family tragedy in India: Young man and his parents die after falling from a cliff edge
Police rule out refusal to buy an "iPhone" as the direct cause and investigate prior family disputes
Initial police investigations have revealed that serious family conflicts preceded the tragedy that claimed the lives of a young man and his parents after they fell from Khavdi Dongar hill in the Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district of Maharashtra state. The investigations have not yet supported the initial narrative linking the incident to the young man’s request to purchase an expensive "iPhone," according to the Times of India.
According to the newspaper, citing police, 18-year-old Kunal Chandgode went to the hill and informed his family of his intention to end his life before his parents followed him. Police, fire brigades, and local residents participated in attempts to persuade him to move away from the edge of the slope.
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According to the Times of India, citing police and witnesses, attempts to persuade the young man to return lasted for about two hours. At one point, he appeared close to complying, but his father, 48-year-old Morleydhar Chandgode, approached him in an attempt to pull him away from the edge. Kunal lost his balance and fell, followed by his father who also fell while trying to rescue him. Their mother, Sangeeta, then joined them, resulting in the deaths of all three family members.
Deputy Police Commissioner Pankaj Atulkar told the Times of India that initial investigations point to a family dispute and "serious differences" within the household, while police continue to investigate to determine the precise circumstances and motives behind the incident.
According to the newspaper, the investigations have not substantiated early speculation that the refusal to buy an expensive phone for the young man was the direct cause of the tragedy. Police noted that both Kunal and his mother were already using "iPhones." Authorities are still investigating information related to purchasing phones on installment plans and whether issues regarding repayment played a role in the dispute.
The Times of India reported that police revealed Kunal had previously visited the same hill the previous year and threatened to end his life after his request for an "iPhone" was not met, at which time police successfully persuaded him to return. However, one police officer who handled both incidents noted that the circumstances of the recent tragedy were different.
In the latest development, the young man’s aunt rejected circulating narratives that exclusively linked the tragedy to the phone issue, calling for an end to the publication of unverified information about the family, as police continue their investigation into the background of the incident.
