A dispute over money to pay an iPhone instalment reportedly preceded a tragic incident in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, in which a 19-year-old young man and his parents died after the family reached a hill in an attempt to prevent him from taking his own life.
The incident took place in the Tisgaon area, under the jurisdiction of Waluj MIDC police station, on Friday. The deceased have been identified as Jhalta Phata residents Murlidhar Chandgude, 48, his wife Sangeeta and their son Kunal, 19.
NDTV reported that Kunal had purchased an iPhone and was seeking money from his family to pay the instalments. An argument reportedly broke out between him and his father over the payment. Following the altercation, Kunal left home and went to a nearby hill at around 10 am, where he threatened to take his own life.
His parents followed him and tried to persuade him to return home. Villagers, the local sarpanch, police and fire brigade personnel also reached the spot as efforts were made to convince the teenager to step away from the hill.
NDTV citing eyewitness accounts said that locals offered to arrange the money for the instalment and even promised to get him an iPhone 15 Pro. However, he reportedly refused to listen to the pleas.
A rescue operation was also initiated, with police and fire brigade personnel attempting to put safety measures in place.
During the final 15 to 20 minutes, Kunal's father climbed towards him in an attempt to restrain and pacify him. According to eyewitnesses, the teenager then went over the edge and his father lost his balance while attempting to stop him. Both fell into the gorge.
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Sangeeta, who witnessed her husband and son fall, subsequently went over the edge in a state of shock, eyewitnesses said. All three family members died in the incident.
Police recovered the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examinations as part of the investigation and further legal proceedings.
While the dispute over the iPhone instalment has emerged as a reported trigger, police are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident and statements from eyewitnesses are being recorded.
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