Tragedy on Khawadya Hill: Family Dispute and Unpaid EMI End in the Fall of Teen and Parents

In a profoundly heartbreaking incident that has sent shockwaves across Maharashtra, a 19-year-old boy and his parents plunged to their deaths from the edge of Khawadya Hill in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Friday, August 21, 2026.

While initial reports heavily suggested the tragedy was sparked by an argument over unpaid installments (EMIs) for a new iPhone, emerging details from relatives and police sources indicate a much deeper, long-standing family crisis was the true catalyst for the horrifying end.

The Three-Hour Standoff

The tragic sequence of events began around 10:00 a.m. on Friday when 19-year-old Kunal Chandgude ran out of his home following a heated argument with his parents, Murlidhar (48) and Sangita. Kunal rushed to the edge of the 250-foot-deep gorge at Khawadya Hill, threatening to jump.

His panicked parents immediately followed him. For three agonizing hours, Murlidhar, Sangita, local police, fire personnel, and gathered onlookers desperately tried to de-escalate the situation.

Heart-wrenching videos from the scene show Sangita begging, pleading, and prostrating on the ground, urging her son to step away from the edge. “Mom, no one listens to me. I have no interest in living. There is no solution for my life; nothing is going to get better,” Kunal reportedly told his mother during the standoff. Even onlookers attempted to pacify the teen, promising to pay for his iPhone if he stepped back.

Around 1:00 p.m., in a desperate bid to save his son, Murlidhar lunged forward to grab Kunal’s hand. Tragically, both lost their balance and plummeted into the gorge. Within seconds, unable to bear the shock of witnessing her husband and son fall, a devastated Sangita jumped after them. All three died on the spot.

Beyond the iPhone: A Deeper Family Crisis

While police initially stated that the immediate trigger for the argument was Kunal’s inability to pay the EMIs for his newly purchased iPhone, family members have come forward to clarify the underlying tensions.

According to Ganesh Jarad, Kunal’s maternal uncle, the family was relatively well-off financially. Murlidhar worked as a truck driver, but the family earned a decent income from farming. Jarad stated that Murlidhar had willingly purchased the iPhone for Kunal and had fully paid his expensive coaching fees for NEET (medical entrance) preparations.

Instead of financial ruin, sources suggest the family was fractured by deep emotional trauma. Six years ago, the couple lost their eldest son to an illness. Following that tragedy, Murlidhar reportedly immersed himself entirely in his work as a driver, often staying away from home for months at a time. He had returned home just two days before the incident, which reportedly triggered severe domestic arguments.

“Kunal might have taken the drastic step to scare his parents amidst their ongoing conflicts,” Jarad speculated, noting that Kunal was a bright student who had scored 92% in his Class 10 board exams.

A History of Despair

Disturbingly, this was not Kunal’s first attempt to take his own life at this exact location. Police sources revealed that the teenager had attempted suicide from the same cliff on Khawadya Hill last year. During that incident, officers were successful in persuading him to step back.

Furthermore, recent social media posts by Sangita Chandgude hinted at severe internal family discord, involving property disputes and extended family interference. In a recently uploaded video, she ominously stated, “You destroyed my happy family. You separated my son from his parents. This sin… your next seven generations will suffer. This is my curse.”

The police have recovered the bodies and sent them for post-mortem examinations. Authorities are currently conducting a thorough investigation of the deceased’s residence and are consulting with extended family members to determine the exact circumstances that pushed a young student and his parents over the edge.

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