Supporters of NCP chief and Deputy CM Ajit Pawar gathered outside Ahilyabai Holkar Government Medical College to pay their final respects as his mortal remains were taken out.
In a tragic accident that sent shock in Maharashtra and also in political circles across the country, Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar died in a plane crash while on his way to Baramati, where he was scheduled to attend functions.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday strongly criticised those trying to give "a conspiratorial angle" to Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar's death in a plane accident.
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde on Wednesday said that to suggest conspiracy behind Nationalist Congress Party chief Ajit Pawar's death in Baramati palnce accident is "extremely unfortunate."
"This is a huge loss for Maharashtra. Maharashtra has lost a dynamic and decisive leader. Some people are saying there is some politics behind this, but it was an accident, and there is no politics involved. Politics should not be brought into this," Pawar said in a video message.
Meanwhile, as part of the investigation into the crash, Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) officials were present at the office of VSR Ventures Private Limited, which operates the ill-fated charter plane. The AAIB team was seen placing boxes of documents into vehicles.
The small charter aircraft, which took off from Mumbai around 8 am, crashed near Baramati airport during a landing attempt 45 minutes later. Visuals from the crash spot show fire and smoke spewing from the remains of the plane.
Earlier today, Sharad Pawar and his wife drove from their Mumbai residence to reach the Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College in Baramati, where the mortal remains of all five deceased, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, are kept.
In a post on X, Vadra said the news of the tragic accident was deeply heartbreaking and prayed for peace for the departed souls. She conveyed her condolences to Sharad Pawar, Supriya Sule and the entire Pawar family, along with Ajit Pawar's supporters.
According to DGCA, five people, including the crew, on board the chartered plane flying from Mumbai, Maharashtra, to Baramati died after a crash-landing at 8.45 am this morning. The crash landing of the Mumbai-Baramati charter plane occurred at the runway threshold in Baramati.
Maharashtra Government said in a statement that PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah both contacted Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadanvis and received information and updates about the plane crash.
While Ajit Pawar's Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) and Sharad Pawar led NCP had allied together to contest in the Pune and Pimpri Chinchwad corporation elections, their combined might not have been effective in consolidating the party's vote base, which was split after Ajit Pawar had bro