The death of Gujarati filmmaker Mahesh Kalawadia, popularly known as Mahesh Jirawala, has been officially confirmed in the recent Ahmedabad plane crash. He was earlier feared dead after going missing near Shahibaug on the day of the tragedy.
According to several Gujarati media portals, a burnt Activa scooter belonging to Jirawala was recovered from the crash site, raising suspicion of his involvement in the accident.
His mobile phone was last tracked to the crash location, where it was found switched off. These clues pointed to the possibility that he was among the victims.
Although DNA test results later confirmed his identity, Jirawala's family was initially unwilling to accept the body, overwhelmed by grief and disbelief. However, after police presented strong evidence, including the Activa's chassis number and the DNA report, the family was consoled and they eventually agreed to claim the body.
As per official data, a total of 231 DNA matches have been made so far in the Ahmedabad crash, and 210 bodies have been handed over to families. The victims include 155 Indians, 36 British nationals, seven Portuguese citizens, one Canadian, and nine locals.
Who was Mahesh Jirawala?
Mahesh was a resident of Naroda, known for directing advertorials as well as music videos. He was the CEO of the production house, Mahesh Jirawala Productions.
He has a number of music videos to his credit, primarily in Gujarati language, and is often seen posting updates about his work on Instagram. He had also directed the 2019 film, Cocktail Premi Pag Of Revenge, starring Asha Panchal and Vruti Thakkar in lead roles.
Mahesh is survived by his wife Hetal and two kids -- a daughter and a son.
Ahmedabad plane crash
The catastrophic crash claimed the lives of 241 passengers and crew members on board, along with 29 people on the ground, making it one of the deadliest air disasters in recent times.
Vishwas, a 40-year-old British businessman from Leicester, is the lone survior.
