A family argument over an iPhone reportedly ended in unimaginable tragedy when a 19-year-old and both of his parents plunged to their deaths from a cliff in India.
Kunal Chandude, 19, had allegedly purchased a new iPhone on an installment plan but later struggled to keep up with the payments.
According to local reports, he asked his father, 48-year-old taxi driver Murlidhar Chandude, for money to cover the latest bill. His father reportedly refused, setting off an argument.
The teenager then headed to Khawadya Hill in Tisgaon, near the city of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, at around 10 a.m. Friday.
Fearing for his safety, his parents followed him.
For roughly three hours, police officers, local residents and Kunal’s parents desperately tried to convince him to move away from the edge of the cliff.
Distressing footage shared online reportedly shows the teenager standing dangerously close to the drop as people call out to him. His mother, Sangita, can be seen dropping to her knees during the tense ordeal.
Firefighters reportedly placed a safety net below part of the cliff in hopes of catching him, but Kunal continued moving along the edge and outside the area the net could cover.
At around 1 p.m., his father moved closer in an attempt to calm him and pull him away from danger.
That was when the situation turned catastrophic.
Kunal fell into the roughly 250-foot gorge, and his father also went over the edge while attempting to save him, according to police.
District Collector and Magistrate Vinay Gowda reportedly said Kunal fell while holding his father’s hand and pulled him down with him.
Some reports have offered slightly different accounts of exactly how Murlidhar fell, but authorities say he was trying to rescue his son.
Moments later, the family suffered a third devastating loss.
Sangita, who had been watching the tragedy unfold from the top of the cliff, also fell shortly afterward. Officials reportedly believe she intentionally went over the edge after witnessing the deaths of her husband and son.
All three died.
Sangita reportedly had around 29,000 followers on a YouTube channel where she posted motivational content.
Just one day before the tragedy, she reportedly shared a message about giving love and effort only to people who truly appreciate it.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident as they work to determine the exact sequence of events.
The bodies were returned to family members after post-mortem examinations.
