CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR — A devastating iPhone EMI dispute escalated into a horrific family tragedy in Maharashtra on Friday, August 21, 2026. An entire family of three lost their lives after falling from the steep Khawadya Hill cliff edge in Tisgaon, located under the jurisdiction of the Waluj MIDC police station.
The deceased individuals have been identified by authorities as 19-year-old Kunal Chandgude, his father Murlidhar Chandgude (48), and his mother Sangita Chandgude (42). Local reports reveal that the fatal sequence of events began over a domestic argument regarding unpaid monthly installments for an expensive smartphone.
Financial Strain and the iPhone EMI Dispute
According to initial police reports, Kunal Chandgude had recently purchased an iPhone on EMI but was unable to manage the monthly payments. He requested financial assistance from his parents to clear the dues. However, his father, who worked as a commercial truck driver, faced financial constraints and refused to yield to the demand.
The friction over the tech purchase triggered a massive argument inside the household. Upset by the refusal, Kunal left their residence in the Zalta Phata area and walked to the peak of the nearby Khawadya Hill around 10:00 AM, threatening to end his life.
The Three-Hour Khawadya Hill Standoff
Local villagers and passersby noticed the teenager standing precariously close to the 250-foot-deep gorge and immediately notified emergency services. For nearly three hours, a joint rescue team consisting of local police, fire personnel, the village sarpanch, and family members tried desperately to de-escalate the crisis and talk Kunal down.
The situation took a turn for the worse around 1:00 PM. Desperate to pull his son back to safety, Murlidhar Chandgude slowly approached the unstable cliff edge. As he reached out to secure the teenager, a struggle ensued. Kunal allegedly jumped or lost his footing, pulling his father down into the stone quarry along with him.
Tragic Chain of Events Caught on Video
Witnessing her husband and son plunge to their deaths, a traumatized Sangita Chandgude fell from the cliff edge immediately after them. First responders recovered all three bodies from the rocky gorge later that afternoon, noting they had died on impact.
The incident has sparked widespread discussion online regarding the psychological pressures of modern consumer culture. Media outlets have provided continuous updates:
- Watch the detailed breaking coverage via NDTV’s YouTube News Report and The Hindu’s Official Video Summary outlining the final hours of the standoff.
- Public reactions and localized updates are trending heavily across social platforms, including detailed timelines published on the Mumbai Today Instagram Reel and regional video updates shared on The Indiverse Instagram Page.
Pre-existing Tensions Under Investigation
While early reports focused strictly on the iPhone EMI dispute, subsequent police inquiries indicate deeper underlying family issues. Investigators uncovered that Sangita Chandgude ran a YouTube channel discussing complex relationship dynamics, having uploaded a video emphasizing mutual effort in family bonds just 24 hours prior to the tragedy.
Furthermore, Waluj MIDC police confirmed that Kunal had attempted a similar suicide bid at the exact same hill last year but was successfully counseled down by officers at the time. An accidental death case remains registered as authorities proceed with taking formal witness statements.
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