Ahmedabad: The body of Gujarati filmmaker Mahesh Jirawala, who went missing after the tragic Air India plane crash in the city, has been identified and handed over to his family following DNA confirmation and an extensive investigation.

Jirawala had been missing since the Air India crash in Ahmedabad on June 12. Although he was neither aboard the ill-fated flight nor present inside the hostel where the aircraft crashed, he had not been seen since that afternoon. His last phone call to his wife was at 1:14 pm, informing her he was heading home from a meeting at Law Garden. His phone later went offline around 1:40 pm — the time of the crash. When his last known location was found to be just 700 meters from the crash site, his family submitted a DNA sample to help identify whether he was among the victims on the ground.

Today, it was confirmed that Jirawala was among the over 250 people who lost their lives in the devastating crash that has sent shockwaves across the country. Initially, despite a DNA match, the family was unwilling to believe that the deceased was Jirawala. However, police were able to convince them using technical evidence. CCTV footage showed Mahesh’s Activa scooter near the crash location at the relevant time. The vehicle was later identified using its engine and chassis number.

After repeated explanations by senior police officials, including DCP Jaypalsinh Rathod and DCP Ravi Mohan Saini, the family finally agreed to accept the body — but only after verifying all evidence. The sensitive and methodical approach taken by the police played a key role in resolving the case.

The Air India Boeing 787 aircraft crashed just moments after taking off from Ahmedabad’s Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport on June 12, striking the campus of a medical college in Meghaninagar. The accident resulted in the deaths of all 241 people on board and 29 individuals on the ground, making it one of the deadliest aviation disasters in recent history. DeshGujarat