CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR: An 18-year-old man died after jumping from Khavdya Dongar near Tisgaon on Friday, with police saying he was reportedly distressed after his parents refused to buy him an iPhone. In a tragic turn, his parents also died while attempting to save him.
Kunal Chandwade, his father Murlidhar and mother Sangeeta died around 1pm after a nearly three-hour rescue effort involving family members, villagers, police and fire brigade personnel.
Police said Kunal reached the hill around 10am and remained close to the edge despite repeated appeals from his parents, villagers and rescuers to move away from the cliff.
For 3 hours, parents pleaded with son to step back
Fire brigade personnel deployed safety nets below the cliff but faced difficulties as Kunal repeatedly shifted his position along the steep edge. Local residents said the teenager was distressed after his demand for an expensive mobile phone was turned down by his parents.
After learning that he had gone to the hill, his parents rushed to the spot. Residents of Tisgaon, MIDC Waluj police and fire brigade personnel joined the rescue operation and spent nearly three hours trying to persuade him to move to safety.
His mother continued speaking to him and urging him to return. Villagers also attempted different ways to keep him engaged and convince him to step away from the edge.
Tisgaon sarpanch Sanjay Jadhav, who was at the spot, said the rescuers repeatedly urged Kunal to “think about his mother” and not take the step. In an attempt to persuade him, Jadhav even offered to give him an iPhone.
However, Kunal appeared determined to jump. According to Jadhav, the teenager told those trying to save him, “There is no solution now. There is only one solution.”
As the standoff continued, Murlidhar moved towards his son in the final moments, apparently hoping to pull him away from the edge.
Witnesses said Kunal suddenly jumped as his father moved closer. Murlidhar attempted to catch him, but both fell from the cliff.
“We thought the father would keep Kunal talking and bring him back. However, when he tried to catch him, both fell,” Jadhav said.
Police commissioner Pravin Pawar said authorities were trying to establish the exact sequence of events.
DCP Ratnakar Navale said the family was from Dhangar Pimpalgaon village in Jalna district. Relatives took the bodies to their native village after police recovered them from the difficult terrain.
The bodies were sent for postmortem, while police are recording statements as part of the investigation.
