Ajit Pawar Funeral Procession and Last Rites to Commence in Baramati
The final journey of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar will begin today with his Antim Yatra procession scheduled to start at 9 AM from the Vidya Pratishthan campus in Gadima, Baramati. The flower-decorated rath carrying his mortal remains will bear his image along with the message "Swargiya Ajitdada Pawar amar rahein" (Long live Ajit Dada Pawar).
Procession Route and Funeral Arrangements
The solemn procession will pass through various parts of Baramati, allowing the public to pay their final respects to the departed leader. The journey will conclude at the Vidya Pratishthan Ground, where the funeral rites are scheduled to be performed at 11 AM. Large crowds of party workers and supporters have already gathered outside Ahilyabai Holkar Hospital, where Pawar's mortal remains were kept earlier.
Postmortem Procedures for Crash Victims Completed
In related developments, the postmortem examinations of the three crew members who perished in the same tragic plane crash have been completed. The procedures for pilot Captain Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Captain Shambhavi Pathak, and flight attendant Pinky Mali were conducted at the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College in Baramati.
Following the completion of all necessary formalities, the mortal remains of the crew members have been handed over to their respective families for conducting the last rites according to their traditions and customs.
Political Leaders Pay Their Respects
Shiv Sena (UBT) chief Uddhav Thackeray, accompanied by his son and party leader Aaditya Thackeray, visited the Baramati residence of Ajit Pawar to offer their heartfelt condolences to the bereaved family. This gesture highlights the cross-party respect that Pawar commanded across the political spectrum in Maharashtra.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The fatal crash occurred on Wednesday morning when a Learjet 45 aircraft (registration VT-SSK) operated by VSR crashed while attempting an emergency landing at Baramati airport. The incident took place at approximately 8:45 AM, claiming the lives of all five people on board, including:
- Ajit Pawar, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief
- Two personal staff members (a personal security officer and an attendant)
- Two crew members (pilot-in-command and first officer)
Pawar was traveling from Mumbai to Baramati to attend a public rally for the Zilla Parishad Elections. Just a day before the tragic incident, he had participated in a meeting of the Maharashtra Cabinet Committee on Infrastructure in Mumbai, chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis.
National Leadership Monitors Situation
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah have been in contact with Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to receive updates about the incident and its aftermath. The tragedy has sent shockwaves through the political establishment and the general public across Maharashtra and beyond.
Baramati Comes to a Standstill
The town of Baramati, which Pawar considered his hometown and political stronghold, has come to a virtual standstill as residents mourn the loss of their leader. Local businesses have shut their shutters as a mark of respect, and emotional scenes have been witnessed across the town with supporters gathering at various locations to pay their tributes.
The sugarcane fields that characterize the region's landscape stood silent under clear blue skies as the entire taluka plunged into mourning for the leader whose political career spanned decades and left an indelible mark on Maharashtra's political landscape.
