Three of Family Die in 250-Foot Fall from Cliff in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar
A 19-year-old youth and his parents died after falling into a 250-foot-deep gorge from a cliff in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar following a prolonged standoff over family disputes and unpaid phone instalments.
The deceased have been identified as Kunal Chandgude (19), his father Murlidhar Chandgude, and his mother Sangeeta Chandgude. All three died on the spot.
According to police, Kunal had purchased an iPhone but was unable to pay the instalments. Following an argument with his father at home, Kunal left for the cliff at around 10 am. This was Kunal's second suicide attempt at the same spot, following an incident last year when police officers successfully intervened and persuaded him to step down.
Videos recorded at the location showed Kunal standing close to the edge while his mother attempted to convince him to step back. Both parents pleaded with him, assuring him that they would resolve his difficulties. Several bystanders also gathered and attempted to persuade him, with some offering to pay for the phone.
Kunal refused to move away from the ledge, telling his parents that no one listened to him and that he saw no solution to his problems.
After several hours, Murlidhar reached out and grabbed Kunal's hand in an effort to pull him away from the edge. However, both lost their balance and fell into the 250-foot gorge. Sangeeta, who witnessed her husband and son fall, subsequently jumped into the gorge.
Police investigations indicated that the family had experienced long-term distress following the death of an elder son due to an illness six years ago. Murlidhar, who worked as a driver, often stayed away from home for months at a time and had returned two days prior to the incident, leading to domestic arguments.
Investigators are also looking into social media posts made by Sangeeta, who operated a YouTube channel with over 29,000 subscribers. In a recent video, she alleged that someone had taken away property rights and caused divisions within the family. Police are working to identify the individuals referenced in the video as part of the ongoing inquiry.
