Schools across Maharashtra remained closed on Wednesday as the state government declared a three-day period of mourning following the tragic death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. The closure affects educational institutions throughout the state.The Maharashtra government announced an immediate public holiday after Pawar’s chartered aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning. All schools have been ordered to remain shut from January 28 to 30 as a mark of respect to the deceased leader.Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced the three-day state mourning period, during which all government offices and educational institutions will remain closed. The national flag is flying at half-mast on all government buildings across Maharashtra.The 66-year-old Pawar died along with four others when his Learjet 45 crashed around 8:45 AM while traveling from Mumbai to Baramati. The victims included pilot Sumit Kapoor, co-pilot Shambhavi Pathak, flight attendant Pinky Mali, and Pawar’s personal security officer HC Vidhit Jadhav.According to the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), the VSR Aviation-operated aircraft crashed during a second approach to runway 11 at Baramati Airport. The plane veered off the runway, burst into flames, and was destroyed on impact.Fadnavis canceled all his programs and, along with fellow Deputy Chief Minister Eknath Shinde, traveled to Baramati immediately after the incident. The Chief Minister described Pawar’s death as an “unprecedented loss” for Maharashtra.Pawar, nephew of veteran politician Sharad Pawar, was one of Maharashtra’s most influential leaders. He served as the state’s longest-serving deputy chief minister and built his political base through the cooperative movement, wielding considerable influence in the sugar belt.Throughout his career spanning over three decades, Pawar held key portfolios including water resources, finance, and energy. The incident has sent shockwaves through Maharashtra’s political establishment, with leaders across party lines expressing grief.President Droupadi Murdi and Prime Minister Narendra Modi have conveyed their condolences to Pawar’s family. The DGCA has launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the crash.
