Ajit Pawar death: Holiday declared in schools, colleges, and government offices

The Maharashtra government has declared Wednesday January 28 aholiday across all state government offices and schools following the sudden demise of Deputy Chief Minister CM Ajit Pawar in a plane crash earlier in the day in Baramati Pune districtOfficial circulars issued by the general administration department GAD the directorate of education and the divisional deputy director of education Mumbai confirm a threeday state mourning period until Friday January 30The national flag will fly at halfmast on all government buildings where it is regularly hoisted and no official entertainment programmes will be held during this timeldquoShri Ajit Anantrao Pawar Honourable Deputy Chief Minister Government of Maharashtra passed away today the 28th January 2026hellip The Government of Maharashtra hereby declares the closing of all offices of the State Government throughout the state on Wednesday January 28th 2026rdquo the official circular saidA separate letter issued by the directorate ofeducation secondary and higher secondary Pune reiterated that all the secondary and higher secondary schools in the state would remain closed only on January 28 as there was confusion earlier over whether the educational institutions will be closed on all the three days of mourningThe education department has instructed all primary secondary highersecondary schools and junior colleges statewide to remain closed on WednesdaySeparate letters from the directorate of education and the Mumbai Divisional Deputy Director direct officials to immediately inform all institutions under their jurisdictionSchools and colleges in Mumbai Thane Pune and across Maharashtra have been shut for the dayAjit Pawar 66 was travelling in a chartered Learjet 45 from Mumbai to Baramati when the aircraft crashed while attempting to land at Baramati airport on Wednesday morning Four others mdash two pilots a crew member and Pawarrsquos personal security officer mdash also lost their lives in the incident The Directorate General of Civil Aviation DGCA and the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau AAIB have launched a probe into the incidentPolitical leaders across party lines have expressed shock and grief Prime Minister Narendra Modi Union Home Minister Amit Shah Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and Nationalist Congress Party SP chief Sharad Pawar are among those who paid tributes to the veteran leader popularly known as ldquoDadardquoAjit Pawar plane crash Live updates Follow our live blog for realtime updatesFadnavis calls Pawarrsquos death an irreparable lossFurther details on the funeral and last rites are awaited Addressing a press conference in Mumbai Fadnavis said the decision on Pawarrsquos last rites would be taken after discussions with his familyldquoA state holiday has been declared and three days of state mourning announced This is an irreparable loss for the entire state of Maharashtrardquo he said adding that a ldquowave of sorrowrdquo had spread across the stateRemembering Pawar as a determined and hardworking leader who made a significant contribution to Maharashtrarsquos development Fadnavis called the tragedy a personal lossldquoAjit Dada never wavered under any circumstances It takes years to build such leadership His demise is shocking and for me it is the loss of a close friend It is also a huge loss for his familyrdquo said the Maharashtra CMCM Dy CM to head to BaramatiFadnavis said he and Deputy CM Eknath Shinde would leave for Baramati shortly He added that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah had spoken to him and conveyed their condolencesldquoOnce we reach Baramati and speak to the family a decision regarding the funeral will be takenrdquo Fadnavis said adding that he had already spoken to Pawars cousin and NCP SP Member of Parliament MP Supriya Sule and son ParthCrowds gather at hospital family travels to BaramatiMeanwhile a large crowd gathered outside the hospital in Baramati where Pawarrsquos mortal remains were brought NCP working president Praful Patel along with Sule Pawarrsquos wife Sunetra and Parth departed from New Delhi for Baramati