Indian family dies in cliff fall over iPhone 15 Pro loan — 42% of Apple phones sold on installment in India

A family of three died in India after falling from a cliff during a dispute over a loan payment for an Apple iPhone 15 Pro, NDTV reports.

The tragedy occurred in the state of Maharashtra. Nineteen-year-old Kunal Chandgude had purchased an iPhone on an installment plan but was unable to make the final payment. After a heated argument with his parents, who demanded he provide the money for the overdue installment, the young man ran out of the house and headed toward the edge of a hill. His father, 48-year-old Murlidhar, who had worked as a driver his entire life to support the family, tried to save his son. He lost his balance and fell off the cliff along with Kunal. The mother, Sangita, jumped after them in despair. All three died at the scene.

Journalist Debanish Achom commented that the desire to own a premium smartphone, fueled by aggressive retail lending, has turned into a psychological and economic trap for families unprepared to handle modern consumer debt.

According to macroeconomic consumer surveys cited by the publication, roughly 50 million Indian households (out of a population of over 1.4 billion) have a monthly family income of about 75,000 rupees (€670). For such families, purchasing an iPhone can be a significant financial burden. A report from Counterpoint Research indicates that at least 42% of all iPhones sold in India this year will be bought on installment plans. This widespread practice of financing premium devices is placing growing pressure on lower-income households, sometimes with tragic consequences.