Maharashtra Tragedy: Parents Die Trying to Save Teen Who Jumped Off Hill in Sambhajinagar Over iPhone Dispute

A 19-year-old man jumped to his death from Khawadya Hill on Friday afternoon, August 21, 2026, following an argument with his parents over a new iPhone. His 48-year-old father, Murlidhar Chandgude, fell while attempting to pull him back from the edge.

His mother, Sangita Chandgude, jumped immediately after witnessing both men fall. The tragedy occurred in the Tisgaon area under the jurisdiction of the Waluj MIDC police station in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. The teenager had left for the hill around 10AM after the domestic dispute, prompting his worried parents to follow him.

Three-Hour Hilltop Standoff

The teenager went to the hill around 10AM Police, fire brigade personnel and villagers arrived shortly after to attempt a rescue.

Rescue teams tried to deploy a safety net at the base of the hill. However, the teenager repeatedly shifted his position along the edge, preventing responders from anticipating his jump.

"It seems he was deliberately attempting to take the extreme step. The situation continued for nearly three hours. After 1PM, his father slowly approached him and pleaded with him to step away from the edge. The teenager suddenly jumped, and his father also fell while trying to grab and save him," Inspector Rameshwar Gade said.

Former Tisgaon Sarpanch Sanjay Jadhav also attempted to help rescue the teenager.

"We, along with the administration, were trying to convince the teenager for almost three hours, but he was not in a condition to listen to anybody," Jadhav said.

Authorities maintained their distance to avoid escalating the crisis.

"Physically attempting to restrain the teenager could also have endangered the lives of police personnel," Gade said.

The bodies were recovered and sent for further formalities. The Waluj MIDC police have registered accidental death reports and begun a formal inquiry. Preliminary post-mortem findings confirmed all three succumbed to severe polytrauma, extensive skeletal fractures and catastrophic internal haemorrhaging.

History of Hilltop Tragedies

The Chandgude family resided in the Zalta Phata area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar. They originally hailed from Dhangar Pimpalgaon village in Maharashtra's Jalna district.

The teenager had climbed the same hill in distress a year prior, but police successfully persuaded him to come down, Lokmat Times reported.

Khawadya Hill has a documented history of fatal incidents. In January 2025, a teenage girl was murdered there after being pushed into a deep ravine, Lokmat Times reported. Another young woman previously died following an accidental fall while exercising at the site.

The local administration has not proposed or implemented any official access restrictions or safety barriers, leaving the cliff rim entirely unfortified despite renewed demands from residents.