A harrowing incident in the Tisgaon area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, has left the entire community in deep shock, claiming the lives of three members of the same family. In the immediate aftermath of the tragedy, various rumors began circulating, with early reports suggesting that a young man named Kunal Chandgude was adamant about getting an iPhone and jumped from a cliff following a dispute with his father over the matter. However, a detailed police investigation has now debunked this narrative. Senior law enforcement officials have explicitly stated that preliminary findings show no connection between the tragedy and an iPhone. Authorities are continuing to probe all aspects to uncover the complete sequence of events.
Providing details regarding the official response, DCP Ratnakar Nawal stated that police personnel rushed to the location immediately after receiving an alert on the emergency helpline. A large crowd of local residents, along with fire department units and an ambulance, were promptly dispatched to the scene. Although law enforcement made every possible effort to manage the crisis, the unfortunate incident could not be averted. According to officials, the young man was suffering from severe mental distress. Initial inquiries have yielded no evidence indicating that the youth took his own life over a mobile phone.
Investigators noted that the exact catalyst behind the incident remains undetermined at this early stage of the inquiry. A definitive conclusion will only emerge once the comprehensive police investigation reaches its final stages. Currently, no surviving members of the deceased family remain, which may cause some delay in establishing every detail of the truth. Eyewitnesses present at the location attempted to counsel and pacify the youth, but the intensity of the situation proved too difficult to de-escalate in time.
Offering a different perspective, a local former sarpanch and eyewitness, Sanjay Jadhav, stated that Kunal made no mention of demanding an iPhone during the ordeal. In fact, Kunal already owned an iPhone prior to the incident. Jadhav mentioned that he personally tried to persuade Kunal to step back from the edge and come down safely, but the distressed youth refused to listen to anyone.
According to background information regarding the household, the Chandgude family had been dealing with domestic friction for years. The family consisted of the parents and two children. The father, Murlidhar Chandgude, worked as a truck driver, which required him to stay away from home for extended periods. A deep emotional blow had struck the family roughly six years earlier when their elder son passed away due to an illness. Ever since that loss, the domestic environment had remained strained. Because the father was frequently away for work, Kunal lacked strict supervision at home. Relatives noted that the bond between father and son was far from harmonious, and the father had returned home just two days prior to the altercation that preceded the tragedy.
On the fateful day at Khawadya Hill in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, nineteen-year-old Kunal uttered heartbreaking final words before the tragedy unfolded. Driven by deep despair, he expressed a feeling of absolute isolation, stating that nobody listened to him and that his life no longer held any meaning. Within the span of just a few seconds, a family's life was completely shattered. In a desperate bid to save Kunal, his father Murlidhar slipped and fell into the massive gorge, which measured around 150 to 200 feet deep. Upon witnessing the horrific sight, Kunal's mother also jumped into the abyss. Despite achieving 92% marks in his tenth-grade examinations, Kunal lost his battle with life.
The Chandgudes, originally from Dhangar Pimpalwadi in Ambad taluka, had been residing in the Zalta Phata area of the city for nearly eighteen years. Murlidhar earned a living working as a driver for a transport company. Minor disagreements and friction had occasionally cropped up between the father and son over pocket money. Complaints regarding pending installments for a mobile phone had also sparked arguments between them in the past. On Friday, another verbal altercation took place, prompting Kunal to rush out of the house and head straight for Khawadya Hill. Upon receiving the news, his parents immediately followed him to the location.
When the parents arrived at the hilltop, they found Kunal standing perilously close to the edge. In an attempt to comfort him, his mother Sangeeta tried talking him down, even offering to leave and live separately if his issues with his father were causing too much distress. To reassure him further, his mother even removed her mangalsutra and tossed it aside.
Despite these desperate pleas, the situation rapidly deteriorated. While police officers, bystanders, and family members were trying to reason with Kunal, his father stepped forward in a final attempt to grab and rescue him. During this intervention, both lost their footing and plunged directly into the deep gorge. Seeing her husband and son fall, Kunal's mother immediately jumped after them. All three died at the scene.
If you or someone you know is struggling with depression, overwhelming stress, or thoughts of self-harm, please remember that support is available. This is a critical situation that requires immediate professional attention. You can reach out to the government helpline at 18002333330 to speak with trained professionals and get assistance.
