Daijiworld Media Network- Kolkata (AJD)

Kolkata, Apr 5: On Friday April 3, Mahesh Agarwal, the owner of Haldiram Bhujiyawala (Pratik Food Products), passed away in Singapore. He was undergoing treatment in Singapore hospital for past 3 months. He was suffering from critical liver ailment.

Mahesh Agarwal was to turn 57 on Saturday, April 4. Amid coronavirus crisis his family had to agree to the cremation on Friday itself. Family is sad that Singapore do not follow the Hindu cremation system.

Agarwal's wife Meena and daughter Avni, want to return but are stuck as flights are cancelled. They are trying to contact the embassy by filling out a form online, all Indians stranded in Singapore are doing the same.

Agarwal daughter Avni said "We couldn't save father but the business back in Kolkata has suddenly been left orphaned and we have to go back to save it..."

Agarwal has a son and three daughters. Eldest son Pratik is in Kolkata, elder daughter Anchal is a scientist and works with Sandisk in San Francisco, while younger daughter Antara is studying maths and computer science at Durham University.

Agarwal had been admitted to hospital in Singapore since January for a transplant. The surgery was successful but due to infection he was shifted from the ICU to high dependency unit.

His daughter added "The infection generated from candida auris, according to the papers we have received from the hospital."

The ashes have been stored and will be handed to the family at the time of leaving the country.