Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Chandgude family had been grappling with differences between the parents, but according to 19-year-old Kunal’s relatives, the teenager wanted to see them together. This new piece of information has emerged as police and the fire brigade reconstructed the chain of events that ended with Kunal, his father Murlidhar and mother Sangeeta dying after falling from a hill in Chhatrapati Sambhajinagar.
advertisement
The tragedy unfolded during a rescue operation at Khuwadiya hill, where Kunal had gone on Monday morning. Police said he was on the hilltop and repeatedly changed his position as family members, police personnel and fire brigade officials tried to persuade him to come down.
His father eventually approached him and tried to hold his hand. Both lost their balance and fell nearly 300 feet into the rocky terrain. Seconds later, Sangeeta also jumped from the hill after witnessing her husband and son fall, police said.
FAMILY SAYS KUNAL WANTED PARENTS TO RECONCILE
Sangeeta’s maternal family said disputes between the couple, including tensions related to property, had affected the family. According to them, Kunal wanted to bring his parents together and see an end to their differences.
They described him as a bright student who had scored 82 per cent in his Class 10 CBSE examination this year. Kunal, they said, wanted to pursue MBBS.
His family’s account offers a different perspective on the circumstances that preceded the tragedy, particularly as the police investigation focuses on the events leading up to Kunal reaching the hill.
FATHER’S FAMILY GIVES DIFFERENT ACCOUNT
Murlidhar’s sister, Shobha Rajendra Maske, presented a different picture of the couple’s relationship. She said Murlidhar and Sangeeta had a love marriage around 22 years ago and claimed that Murlidhar’s parents had opposed the marriage and did not attend the wedding. According to Shobha, relations between Murlidhar and his family remained strained after the marriage.
She also referred to differences between Murlidhar and Sangeeta that had continued over the years.
NEIGHBOURS SAW NO OBVIOUS DISTRESS
People who knew the family closely, however, said they had not noticed anything unusual in their day-to-day life. Aditya Deshpande, caretaker of the house where the Chandgudes lived, said the family had moved into the rented property around four months ago. He described them as well-behaved and said Kunal generally kept to himself.
Murlidhar’s colleagues also described him as a quiet and disciplined person. Pawan Otambe, manager at Chaudhary Transport, said Murlidhar had worked there as a driver for around 10 years and that no complaint had ever been made against him.
Neighbours said Kunal was academically strong and remembered him as a boy with ambitions of pursuing medicine.
RESCUE ATTEMPT ENDS IN TRAGEDY
The family accounts have emerged alongside the police and fire brigade’s reconstruction of the final moments. Kunal had left home at around 8 am, reportedly for his classes. When he did not reach the institute by 9.10 am, the institute contacted his mother. His location was traced to the hill between 10 am and 10.30 am, following which villagers alerted police at around 10.45 am.
The fire brigade was called at around 11.30 am. When the team arrived, Kunal was on the hilltop and kept changing his position. Rescuers tried to persuade him to return and placed a safety net below as a precaution.
It was during these efforts that Murlidhar approached his son and tried to grab his hand. The two lost their balance and fell. Sangeeta then jumped moments later, according to police.
A fire brigade employee suffered minor injuries during the operation. The three bodies were brought to Ghati Hospital around 2.30 pm for post-mortem examinations.
PET DOG LEFT WAITING FOR FAMILY
The tragedy has left behind not only a grieving extended family but also the family’s pet dog, Sheru, who remained locked inside the house for two days after the deaths. Neighbours provided him with food and water before a pet animal welfare group rescued him.
Sheru has been moved to a municipal shelter for now, with the animal welfare group appealing to a family to adopt him and provide him a permanent home.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
