An 18-year-old Indian teenager and his parents died after a family dispute over payments for an iPhone ended in a fatal sequence of falls from a hilltop in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, Indian media reported.
According to police officials cited by NDTV, Kunal Chandwade had purchased an iPhone on instalments and was reportedly under pressure to arrange money for the payments. Following an argument with his parents, he went to Kohdya Dongar hill and remained near the edge.
Concerned about his safety, Kunal’s parents, Murlidhar Chandgude, 48, and Sangita Chandgude, followed him to the hill along with local residents and tried for several hours to persuade him to return home.
A video from the incident shows Sangita making desperate attempts to stop her son from approaching the edge. She reportedly pleaded with him, moved toward him and knelt down in an effort to persuade him to step away from the cliff.
After about three hours, Murlidhar approached Kunal and attempted to pull him away from the edge. The two reportedly lost their balance and fell into a gorge estimated at around 200 to 250 feet deep.
Sangita then fell moments later after witnessing her husband and son fall. All three died at the scene, according to Indian media reports.
Local officials and residents made repeated appeals to Kunal, with one local leader reportedly offering to arrange an iPhone in an attempt to persuade him to move away from the edge. Despite the efforts, the teenager remained distressed and did not leave the area.
A separate video posted by Sangita on her YouTube channel about relationships and family values also surfaced after her death. The video was reportedly uploaded a day before the incident.
The incident has triggered discussion in Indian media about emotional distress among young people, family communication and the growing use of instalment-based purchases for expensive smartphones. An NDTV analysis noted that high-end smartphones bought on borrowed money have become increasingly common beyond major cities, raising concerns about household debt and consumer pressure.
