Ajit Pawar dies in plane crash
Wave of mourning in Maharashtra, funeral on Friday
The Sunday Mail
New Delhi. Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash on Wednesday. His funeral will be held in Baramati on Thursday. His death has plunged the entire state of Maharashtra into mourning. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Union Home Minister Amit Shah, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, and leaders of all political parties expressed deep sorrow over Pawar’s death. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and most of the ministers reached Baramati and offered condolences to the family. The government has ordered an inquiry into the causes of the plane crash. Pawar’s death is considered a major loss for Maharashtra politics.
Sources say there was a technical malfunction in the aircraft. As soon as the pilot detected the problem, he informed Air Traffic Control (ATC) and requested permission for an emergency landing by making a Mayday call. After receiving permission for an emergency landing, the pilot tried to land the aircraft, but was unsuccessful. Eyewitnesses say the explosion at the time of the crash was so powerful that two bodies were thrown into the air. Pawar was identified with the help of his glasses and watch. The plane crash will be investigated by the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB). A team from the bureau will soon visit the accident site and conduct a thorough investigation into the causes of the crash. Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis described the incident as a difficult day for the state and expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives in the accident. Ajit Pawar was the nephew of veteran Maharashtra leader Sharad Pawar and was, in a way, carrying forward his political legacy. Ajit Pawar’s death is considered a great loss for the Pawar family.
