Ajit Pawar Funeral: Last Rites Today in Baramati After Fatal Plane Crash

The political landscape of Maharashtra is in deep mourning following the tragic demise of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar. His mortal remains were brought to his residence in Katewadi, Baramati, early this morning. A massive crowd of supporters, party workers, and local residents has gathered to pay. Their final respects to the leader who was often called the 'Dada' of Maharashtra politics.

Funeral Procession and VIP Attendance

The final journey of Ajit Pawar is scheduled to begin shortly from his residence. The last rites will be performed at 11:00 AM at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati with full state honors. Union Home Minister Amit Shah is expected to arrive in Baramati to pay his tributes. The entire Maharashtra cabinet, including CM Eknath Shinde and Deputy CM. Devendra Fadnavis, will be present to bid farewell to their colleague.

The Tragic Timeline of the Crash

The accident occurred on Wednesday morning at approximately 8:45 AM. Ajit Pawar was traveling to address four election rallies for the upcoming Zilla Parishad polls. According to technical reports, the chartered plane made its first contact with Baramati at 8:18 AM. Despite the pilot's extensive experience, the aircraft faced visibility issues during the final approach to Runway 11, while after circling the airfield, the plane tragically crashed just 50 meters away from the runway threshold.

Investigation by AAIB

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has officially launched a high-level probe into the incident. A specialized team from Delhi has reached the offices of VSR Ventures, the aircraft operator, to scrutinize maintenance logs and pilot records. While the company maintains that the aircraft was in perfect technical condition and the pilots were highly experienced, the AAIB is looking into all possible angles, including sudden weather changes and technical failure during the final descent.

A Great Loss for Maharashtra

Ajit Pawar, 66, was a powerhouse in Maharashtra politics. His sudden departure has left a void that will be difficult to fill. The state government has declared three days of state mourning as a mark of respect. Security has been beefed up across Baramati and Pune districts to manage the influx of VIPs and the thousands of emotional followers arriving for the funeral. The crash also claimed the lives of four others, including two pilots and security personnel, making it one of the most tragic aviation accidents involving a high-profile political leader in recent years.

Final Moments and Rescue Efforts

Air Traffic Control reported seeing flames near the threshold of Runway 11 at 8:44 AM, just moments after the plane was cleared for landing. Emergency services were dispatched immediately, but the impact was so severe that there were no survivors. The wreckage was found scattered, indicating a high-velocity impact. As the nation mourns, the focus remains on providing a dignified farewell to the leader who dedicated decades to the service of the people of Maharashtra.