Ajit Pawar Plane Crash: Following the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader Ajit Pawar, the state government on Wednesday announced a three-day state mourning. The state government has issued a circular mandating that the National Flag be flown at half-mast from January 28 to January 30, 2026.
Maharashtra Govt Announces Three-Day State Mourning: What's Open And What's Closed?
Following the announcement of three-day state mourning, here is what is affected across Maharashtra:
- Public Holiday: All state government offices, schools, and colleges across Maharashtra are closed today, Wednesday, January 28, to honour Pawar’s contributions. While an official government notification is awaited, educational institutions and government departments are likely to be closed during the three-day state mourning.
- No Entertainment: During the three-day mourning period, there will be no official entertainment events.
- Flag Protocol: The National Flag will be flown at half-mast until the conclusion of the mourning period on Friday, January 28.
Which Services Are Likely To Be Exempted?
According to an India TV report, essential services will continue to operate as usual during the three-day state mourning. These include:
- Emergency Healthcare Services: Ambulances, Hospitals
- Public transport: Railways, Buses
- Shops, Market And Retail Stores
Ajit Pawar Plane Crash
Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and four others died on Wednesday morning after their chartered aircraft crashed while landing at Baramati Airport. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has confirmed that there were no survivors among the five people on board. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) has dispatched a team from Delhi to Baramati to probe the incident.