Maharashtra plunged into grief as Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and five others lost their lives in a fiery plane crash near Baramati airport. The DGCA’s confirmation of the fatalities marks a somber chapter in the state’s political history.

Traveling from Mumbai for an election-related rally, Pawar’s chartered flight met disaster during descent. At approximately 9 AM, the aircraft failed to maintain control, slammed into the runway vicinity, and burst into inferno. On board were Pawar, two pilots, and three additional passengers—no one survived the impact.

Chaos ensued at the airstrip as locals and first responders grappled with the blaze. Photos captured plumes of black smoke, mangled metal, and emergency vehicles racing to aid. Authorities retrieved three bodies initially, sending them to Baramati Medical College, while forensic teams comb the wreckage.

DGCA experts, alongside aviation safety personnel, are on-site probing the incident. Factors under scrutiny include mechanical issues, pilot error, or sudden weather shifts. Meanwhile, NCP heavyweights Praful Patel and Supriya Sule, plus Pawar’s immediate family from Delhi, are heading to the tragedy spot.

The 66-year-old Pawar, a veteran leader and Sharad Pawar’s nephew, helmed the NCP and held the Deputy CM post in the Fadnavis-Shinde administration. His contributions to Maharashtra’s development were immense, from irrigation projects to cooperative movements. Opposition and allies alike have suspended campaigns, united in sorrow.

As the nation reflects on his legacy, questions linger about the crash’s cause. This irreplaceable loss reverberates through Baramati—Pawar’s stronghold—and beyond, prompting calls for stringent aviation safety reforms.