Archive · 25 Aug 2026
Family Disputes Phone Claim After Three Die in Hill Falls
Three members of one family died after falling from a hill in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
The victims were 19-year-old Kunal, his father Murlidhar and his mother Sangita.
Police said Kunal went to the hill after leaving home for classes.
Rescuers tried to persuade him to come down safely.
His father reached toward him, but both reportedly fell.
Sangita then fell moments later after seeing what happened.
Kunal’s maternal aunt said he wanted his father to return home and did not plan to die.
She also said the incident was not caused by a phone or money problems, but police are still investigating.
Kunal Chandgude, his father Murlidhar and mother Sangita died after falling from a hill in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
Police said Kunal went to the hill after leaving home for classes and moved repeatedly during rescue efforts.
Murlidhar reportedly tried to hold Kunal’s hand before both fell, followed moments later by Sangita.
Kunal’s maternal aunt said he wanted his estranged father to return home, not to die by suicide.
The aunt rejected claims that an iPhone or financial problems caused the incident, while police continue investigating.
- Who
- Kunal Chandgude, his father Murlidhar and his mother Sangita died; police, villagers and fire brigade personnel took part in the rescue effort.
- What
- The three family members died in a sequence of falls from a hill during a rescue operation.
- When
- The tragedy occurred on August 21; Kunal reportedly left home around 8 a.m., and the bodies reached Ghati Hospital around 2:30 p.m.
- Where
- A hill in the Tisgaon area of Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, reportedly identified as Khavda hill.
- Why
- Police are investigating. Kunal’s maternal aunt said he was distressed by tensions between his parents and wanted his father to return home; she rejected the reported phone-related explanation.
Maternal Relatives’ Account
Father’s Family’s Account
Kunal’s intentions
Maternal Relatives’ Account
Kunal’s maternal aunt said he did not intend to die by suicide and went to the hill to make his father emotional and persuade him to return home.
Father’s Family’s Account
No direct account from Murlidhar’s family about Kunal’s intentions was reported; police are continuing their investigation.
Possible cause
Maternal Relatives’ Account
The maternal aunt rejected the phone explanation and said Kunal was troubled by tensions and misunderstandings between his parents, not financial problems.
Father’s Family’s Account
Murlidhar’s sister reportedly gave a different account of the family history, emphasizing the couple’s long-standing differences and strained relations between Murlidhar and his own family.
Parents’ relationship
Maternal Relatives’ Account
Kunal’s maternal relatives said he wanted his parents to resolve their differences and remain together, with disputes reportedly including property-related disagreements.
Father’s Family’s Account
Murlidhar’s sister said the couple had a love marriage about 22 years earlier and that differences between them continued over the years.
- Victims
- Murlidhar Chandgude, Sangita Chandgude and their 19-year-old son Kunal Chandgude
- Location
- Tisgaon area, Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar; the hill was identified in reports as Khavda hill
- Fall
- The family reportedly fell nearly 300 feet
- Kunal’s reported destination
- Classes; he was preparing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test at Aakash Institute
- Rescue operation
- Police and fire brigade personnel tried to persuade Kunal to come down and placed a safety net below
- Hospital
- The bodies were taken to Ghati Hospital for post-mortem examinations
- Investigation
- Police are investigating why Kunal went to the hill and what happened before the falls
