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Filmmaker Mahesh Kalawadia went missing minutes after an Air India crash in Ahmedabad, with his last phone location traced near the site. His family has submitted DNA samples.
Filmmaker Mahesh Kalawadia (Image source: Instagram)
Filmmaker Mahesh Kalawadia, also known as Mahesh Jirawala, has been missing since the Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad on June 12.
According to the details, his phone location was last traced to just 700 metres away from the horrific Air India plane crash site, following which, his family has submitted DNA samples.
His wife, Hetal, said Mahesh, a resident of Naroda, had gone to meet someone at the Law Garden area that afternoon.
“My husband called me at 1.14 pm to tell me his meeting is over and that he is on his way home. However, when he did not return, I called up his phone, but it was switched off. After the police were informed, the last location of his mobile phone showed he was 700 metres away from the crash site,” news agency PTI quoted her as saying.
“His phone got switched off around 1:40 pm (a minute after the ill-fated flight took off). His scooter and mobile phone are missing. All this is unusual since he would never use that route (as per the last location) to come home,” she said.
“We have submitted DNA samples to check if he was one of those killed on the ground due to the crash,” Hetal added.
The Air India aircraft crashed into the premises of a medical college in Meghaninagar area, moments after taking off from Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport at 1:39 pm on June 12, killing 241 out of 242 on board as well as 29 on the ground.
Since many of the bodies were burnt beyond recognition or damaged otherwise, authorities were carrying out DNA tests to establish the identity of the victims of the horrific tragedy.
Three days after the tragic crash of Air India flight AI-171 in Ahmedabad, which has so far claimed 270 lives, hospital authorities confirmed on Sunday the identification of 47 victims through DNA matching.
Authorities have handed over 24 bodies to the victims’ families, they added.
ALSO READ | Air India May Insure Passengers On All Flights For Next Few Months After Ahmedabad Tragedy
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
Vani Mehrotra is the Deputy News Editor at News18.com. She has nearly 10 years of experience in both national and international news and has previously worked on multiple desks.
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