Pune: Ajit Pawar Cremated in Baramati Amid Massive Public Turnout
Baramati, 29th January 2026: The last rites of former Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP president Ajit Pawar were performed with full state honours on Thursday at the Vidya Pratishhtan ground in Katewadi village, Baramati. His sons, Parth Pawar and Jay Pawar, lit the funeral pyre.
Pawar’s wife Sunetra Pawar paid her final respects by sprinkling Ganga water on his mortal remains. Several senior leaders were present, including NCP chief Sharad Pawar, his daughter and MP Supriya Sule, and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. Leaders and supporters from across Maharashtra and other states arrived in large numbers to bid farewell to the veteran politician.
People began gathering in Baramati late Wednesday night. By morning, traffic congestion was reported in several areas as thousands of supporters reached the venue on bikes, tractors, trolleys and buses. The funeral procession stretched over one to two kilometres, with crowds lining the route.
Ajit Pawar, 66, was killed in a chartered aircraft crash near Baramati Airport on Wednesday morning at around 8.45 am while attempting to land. Five people, including Pawar, two pilots, his security officer and a woman crew member, lost their lives in the accident.
The Maharashtra government has announced three days of state mourning following his death.
How the Aircraft Crashed: Key Points
* Baramati airfield is an uncontrolled airstrip, where traffic information is provided by instructors from a flying training organisation instead of a full Air Traffic Control (ATC) unit.
* The aircraft first contacted Baramati at 8.18 am and again when it was about 30 nautical miles (around 55 km) away.
* Pune Approach released the aircraft for Baramati and advised visual landing under VMC (Visual Meteorological Conditions).
* The pilot reported that the runway was not visible during the first final approach and decided to go around.
* On the second attempt, the crew said the runway had come into sight.
* At 8.43 am, the aircraft was cleared to land on Runway 11, but no readback was received.
* At 8.44 am, flames were seen near the runway threshold. The wreckage was found about 50 metres left of Runway 11.
The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has taken over the probe into the crash.
Ajit Pawar’s funeral marked an emotional moment for Maharashtra, as thousands came together to honour a leader widely known for his strong political presence and deep roots in Baramati.
