22-Year-Old Working Double Shifts To Support Widowed Mother, Sis Dies After Jumping From 13th Floor In Gujarat

A 22-year-old Domino's Pizza delivery executive who worked two jobs to support his widowed mother and teenage sister died after allegedly jumping from the 13th floor of a residential building in Gujarat's Valsad.

The deceased, identified as Manav Rajubhai Patel, was the sole breadwinner of his family after the death of his father around one-and-a-half years ago. Family members said Manav worked long hours every day, juggling a morning job in an ice-related business and later reporting for duty as a Domino's delivery executive, all while dreaming of building a better future for his family and eventually going abroad.

The incident occurred on Sunday at Sardar Heights on Tithal Road in Valsad. According to police, Manav went to the 13th floor of the Damanganga Wing building and allegedly jumped from there.

Manav had left home for work as usual on Sunday morning. His mother, Sangeetaben Patel, had gone to her vegetable shop and returned around 1 pm. Shortly afterwards, the family received a call that would change their lives forever.

According to relatives, Manav's aunt, Jagrutiben Patel, received a phone call from an acquaintance who asked her to speak with a police officer. The officer instructed the family to immediately reach Sardar Heights.

Sangeetaben, Jagrutiben and Manav's uncle Rahulbhai Patel rushed to the residential complex without knowing what had happened. When they arrived, police personnel and local residents had already gathered in the compound.

A body covered with a white cloth lay on the ground.

Police asked Sangeetaben to identify the deceased. The moment she lifted the cloth and saw her son's blood-soaked body, she collapsed in grief as relatives struggled to comfort her.

Manav had suffered severe injuries in the fall and was declared dead at the spot.

The tragedy has attracted widespread attention after CCTV footage of Manav's final moments surfaced on social media.

According to investigators, Manav reached the 13th floor at around 1.14 pm and spent several minutes moving around the lobby. CCTV footage reportedly shows him pacing through the corridor, repeatedly checking his mobile phone, looking around the passage and occasionally glancing towards the CCTV camera.

Police sources said he was seen looking towards the side from where he later jumped. He walked around the lobby, checked his phone multiple times and appeared hesitant. At one point, he reportedly placed his phone aside before moving out of the camera's view.

Investigators also said Manav was seen watching pigeons perched on a nearby wall and looking around the floor several times during his final minutes.

Family members described Manav as a hardworking and responsible young man who carried the burden of supporting his family from a young age.

He lived with his mother Sangeetaben and 15-year-old sister Yashvi in the Sughad Faliya area of Valsad. Following the death of his father Rajubhai Patel after a prolonged illness, the family's financial situation became difficult, forcing Manav to shoulder major responsibilities.

According to relatives, his daily routine reflected his determination to support the family. He worked in an ice-related business with his uncle in the mornings and later spent the rest of the day working as a Domino's Pizza delivery executive.

Despite the demanding schedule, Manav hoped to earn enough money to secure a better future for his mother and sister.

His uncle Rahulbhai Patel said Manav was good at studies and had completed an ITI course after Class 10. However, family responsibilities prevented him from pursuing further education.

Relatives said Manav rarely discussed his personal struggles. While he appeared cheerful around family members, they had noticed signs of stress in recent months.

Rahulbhai suspects financial pressure and loan-related concerns may have troubled the young man, although he never openly spoke about such issues. "Whenever he passed my house during deliveries, he would call out to me. Looking at him, it never seemed he would do something like this," Rahulbhai said.

However, no official reason behind the incident has been established so far.

Police said local residents immediately alerted the 108 ambulance service after the fall, but doctors declared Manav dead after examination. His body was later shifted to Valsad Municipality Hospital for post-mortem through a private ambulance.

Valsad City Police have registered an accidental death case under Section 174 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the death.

ASI H.S. Patoliya and ASI Manojkumar Natvarlal are part of the investigating team.

Police are examining all possible angles, including personal, financial and psychological factors, to determine what led to the tragedy.