Family of three dies in Maharashtra hill fall after phone dispute

A family of three died after falling from a hill in Maharashtra's Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on Friday, August 21, following a dispute over a mobile phone purchase, police said. The incident occurred at Khawadya Hill in the Tisgaon area, under the jurisdiction of the Waluj MIDC police station.

The deceased were identified as Kunal Chandgude, 19, his father Murlidhar Chandgude, 48, and his mother Sangita Chandgude. They were residents of the Zalta Phata area of the city. According to officials, the chain of events began around 10 a.m. when Kunal went up the hill after an argument with his parents. Reports indicated the dispute centered on his demand for a new iPhone, which the family could not afford. Murlidhar, who worked as a driver, was described as the family's sole earning member.

Anxious for their son's safety, Murlidhar and Sangita followed him to the hilltop to persuade him to return home. Their efforts, along with those of local villagers, police personnel, and fire brigade officials who gathered at the scene, continued for nearly three hours. Fire service personnel attempted to place a safety net at the base of the steep hill, but rescue operations were hampered...