Family of three dies after jumping from cliff in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar

An 18-year-old boy died after jumping off a cliff in Khavdya Dongar near Tisgaon in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar on Friday, allegedly upset after his parents refused to buy him a high-end phone. His father and mother also lost their lives moments later while trying to save him, despite nearly three hours of efforts by villagers, police and fire brigade teams, according to a report by TOI.

The boy, Kunal Chandwade, along with his father Murlidhar and mother Sangeeta, died within moments of each other around 1 pm. The family was from Dhangar Pimpalgaon village in Jalna district.

Police said Kunal climbed up to the cliff around 10 am and stood near the edge while his parents and local villagers pleaded with him to step back. Fire brigade teams set up safety nets below, but struggled to position them properly as the teen kept shifting his spot along the edge.

Tisgaon sarpanch Sanjay Jadhav, who was among those trying to talk him down, told TOI, "We kept telling him to think of his mother." Jadhav even offered to get him an iPhone himself, but Kunal seemed determined, telling those present, "There is no solution now. There is only one solution."

As the standoff dragged on, Murlidhar inched closer to his son, hoping to pull him back to safety. Just as he got close, Kunal jumped, according to witnesses. "When the father tried to catch him, both fell," Jadhav said.

Watching her husband and son fall, a grief-stricken Sangeeta jumped from the cliff moments later and died as well.

Police recovered all three bodies and sent them for postmortem. DCP Ratnakar Navale said relatives later took the remains to their native village for last rites.