A teenager and both of his parents died within the same hour at a cliff-top in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra, after a rescue attempt that police, firefighters and local villagers spent nearly three hours trying to prevent. The tragedy, which happened on August 21, was first widely reported as the result of a dispute over the teenager's iPhone installment payments — but police now say that explanation does not match what their investigation has found so far.
This is a developing story. IF Daily was unable to independently confirm several details reported elsewhere, including deeper claims about the family's private history, and has left them out below rather than present them as fact.
What happened
According to police accounts reported by multiple Indian news outlets, 18-year-old Kunal Chandgude (his surname has also been reported as "Chandwade") went alone to Khavdya Hill, also called Khavdya Dongar, in the Tisgaon area on the morning of August 21, after an argument with his parents. He stood near the edge of the roughly 400–500-foot cliff for close to three hours.
His parents, Murlidhar Chandgude, 48, and Sangeeta Chandgude, followed him and tried to convince him to step back, alongside local villagers, police officers and fire brigade personnel, who reportedly positioned a safety net below. Kunal fell from the cliff edge; his father, who had moved close enough to try to pull him back, lost his balance and fell with him. His mother then also fell from the same spot moments later. All three died at the scene, police said.
Timeline
- Around 10 a.m. — Kunal goes to Khavdya Hill alone, reportedly after an argument with his parents.
- Over roughly three hours — His parents, villagers, police and fire brigade personnel try to talk him away from the edge.
- Around 1 p.m. — Kunal falls from the cliff.
- Moments later — His father Murlidhar, who had moved toward him, loses his balance and falls.
- Almost immediately after — His mother Sangeeta also falls from the same spot.
- All three are pronounced dead at the scene.
What's confirmed, and what's still disputed
The explanation that spread furthest online — that the argument was over unpaid EMI installments on Kunal's iPhone — was reported by several outlets in the hours after the tragedy, citing early police and local accounts. It has not held up as the confirmed cause.
Preliminary investigation does not support the conclusion that the suicide was caused by an iPhone.
Reported statement attributed to Ratnakar Navale, Deputy Commissioner of Police — IF Daily could not independently confirm this exact quote via a top-tier national outlet, though it is consistent with other on-record accounts
Kunal's maternal uncle, Ganesh Jarad, gave reporters a different account, saying the real source of tension was ongoing arguments between his parents over routine domestic matters, not the phone — and that Kunal already owned the iPhone in question. Other relatives told reporters he may have gone to the hill to frighten his parents into stopping their arguing, rather than intending to jump. Another relative has since publicly appealed to the public to stop spreading unverified claims about the family on social media.
Adding weight to that account: police say Kunal attempted suicide at the same location in 2025 and was safely brought down after officers spoke with him — meaning this was, by some reports, a recurring crisis point rather than a single argument. As of publication, authorities have not released a final, official determination of what triggered the incident, and the investigation remains open. Kunal's age has also been reported inconsistently — as both 18 and 19 — across different outlets; IF Daily is using the age most commonly cited and will correct it if authorities clarify.
A cliff with a documented history
Khavdya Hill has been the site of at least 13 previous deaths, according to multiple reports, and local residents have described it as a known danger spot. It has no fencing, safety netting, or warning signage, despite the steep, unstable terrain along the Dhule-Solapur highway. Locals and officials have renewed calls for the site to be fenced off following this latest tragedy.
What happens next
No charges have been filed as of publication. Police say their investigation into the exact sequence of events and its cause is ongoing, and IF Daily will update this story if authorities release further findings.
Some of the imagery that has circulated online alongside this story — including a dramatized illustration and a portrait collage — could not be verified by IF Daily and has not been used here for that reason. The two real photographs used in this article have circulated widely across Indian news coverage of the incident; IF Daily cannot independently confirm their original photographer or exact moment captured, and they are credited as such.
If you or someone you know is struggling, India's KIRAN mental health helpline is available 24/7 at 1800-599-0019.
