Family dispute suspected behind Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar cliff tragedy, say police

CHHATRAPATI SAMBHAJINAGAR (Maharashtra): Preliminary investigations into the deaths of three family members after falling from a cliff in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar have pointed toward a long-standing family dispute as the primary trigger for the tragedy, a senior police official said.

Deputy Commissioner of Police, Zone-2, Pankaj Atulkar, providing a follow-up on the investigation, stated that the household had been under significant stress for the past few months.

“Preliminary investigations reveal that there was a family dispute, which had created an atmosphere of stress in the household over the past two or three months. Distressed by this situation, the young man attempted suicide on August 21”, DCP Atulkar said.

#WATCH | Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar, Maharashtra: DCP, Zone-2, Pankaj Atulkar said, “On August 21st, an incident occurred in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of three people. The sequence of events began when a young man named Kunal arrived at… pic.twitter.com/tHWrBQDJNv

— ANI (@ANI) August 24, 2026

Recalling the sequence of events that led to the triple fatality, the DCP said the police and fire brigade spent nearly two hours trying to negotiate with the youth, identified as Kunal.

“On August 21, an incident occurred in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar city, resulting in the unfortunate deaths of three people. The sequence of events began when a young man named Kunal arrived at the edge of a cliff around 12 pm and announced to the police and villagers that he intended to commit suicide. The police responded immediately and summoned the fire brigade; extensive efforts were made to reason with him, lasting nearly 1.5-2 hours,” he said.

The official explained how the situation escalated into a larger tragedy when the parents attempted to save their son. “When his father attempted to grab him, he lost his balance and fell; simultaneously, his mother, who was also present at the scene, suddenly jumped off the cliff. Thus, three lives were lost in this incident”, the DCP added.

The police are now looking into the specific nature of the family conflict to close the investigation. “We are currently conducting further inquiries to uncover the root cause of this incident and fully understand the circumstances that led to it,” Atulkar said.

A heartbreaking tragedy in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.

19-year-old Kunal Chandgude reportedly went to Khawadya Hill after an argument with his parents over a mobile phone. Despite nearly three hours of efforts by his parents, villagers and rescue personnel to… pic.twitter.com/ksm67Rn7lo

— Mukesh (@mksh_kgp) August 21, 2026

On Friday, a family of three died after falling from Khavda Hill in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district, following an incident involving an 18-year-old youth who allegedly jumped from a cliff after a quarrel with his father over a mobile phone, police said.

Senior Police Official Rameshwar Gade said the cliff was around 400-500 feet high and, despite efforts by police and fire brigade personnel, the youth could not be rescued. He said the youth’s father, who was a driver, also fell while trying to save his son, after which the mother jumped from the cliff. (ANI)