Mumbai: The last rites of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, who died in a plane crash along with four others, will be performed with full state honours at Baramati in Pune district around 11 am on Thursday (today).
Locals and first responders were unable to recognise Pawar’s face due to the intensity of the fireball caused by the impact. It was his wristwatch and clothing that ultimately confirmed his identity at the site of the accident, reported Hindustan Times.
The Learjet, carrying Pawar and four other people, was attempting to land at the Baramati airstrip amid poor visibility when it crashed and caught fire on impact, completely burning the aircraft. The condition of the wreckage made traditional visual identification
of the victims impossible.
Residents who reached the scene early said they saw only personal effects and charred remains. “We saw his wristwatch on his hand. This and his clothes helped identify him. His face was not recognisable,” said a local resident, as quoted by HT.
The significance of the wristwatch extended beyond mere identification — it resonated with the clock symbol of the Nationalist Congress Party (NCP), which Pawar led. The irony was noted by those at the crash site.
NCP leader and MLC Amol Mitkari recalled the profound loss for party workers, saying it was “extremely unfortunate that he had to be identified by his wristwatch, which is also our party symbol.”
Pawar had been travelling to Baramati to campaign for the upcoming zilla parishad and panchayat samiti elections. His planned schedule included multiple public meetings and rallies across the region.
As the news of his death spread, Baramati fell into a stunned silence, with party workers and residents gathering in grief. What was meant to be a day of campaigning turned into one of mourning for a leader whose presence was deeply woven into the community.