Father, Mother, Son: 3 Lives Lost on Maharashtra Hilltop After Mobile Phone Row

A 19-year-old man died by suicide after jumping from a hilltop in Maharashtra’s Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar district on Friday, while his father also fell to his death while attempting to save him. His mother subsequently jumped after witnessing the two fall, police said.

The incident occurred at Khawadya Hill in the Tisgaon area, under the jurisdiction of Waluj MIDC police station.

According to police, the teenager went to the hill around 10 am following an argument with his parents over his demand for a new mobile phone. Concerned about him, his parents followed him to the hilltop and tried to persuade him to return home.

Police, fire brigade personnel and villagers also reached the site after being alerted that the teenager was threatening to die by suicide. Rescue teams attempted to place a safety net at the foothill, but the teenager repeatedly moved near the edge, making it difficult to predict where he might jump.

Waluj MIDC police inspector Rameshwar Gade said the standoff continued for nearly three hours. After 1 pm, the teenager’s father gradually approached him and pleaded with him to move away from the edge.

The teenager suddenly jumped, and his father also fell while attempting to grab him, Gade said. Seeing her husband and son fall, the mother then jumped from the hilltop, he added.

Gade said police had made extensive arrangements for the rescue operation but physically attempting to restrain the teenager could have endangered the rescuers.

Sanjay Jadhav, former sarpanch of Tisgaon village, said villagers and officials had spent nearly three hours trying to convince the teenager to step away from the edge, but he was not in a condition to listen.

Police said the bodies were recovered and sent for further formalities.