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Ajit Pawar Dies In Plane Crash: Political Leaders Across Parties Express Grief Over Maharashtra Deputy CM’s Tragic Death

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Mumbai: Political leaders cutting across party lines took to X to pay homage to Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister and NCP chief Ajit Pawar following the shocking news of his demise in a tragic air incident on Wednesday. Pawar was en route to Baramati aboard a small aircraft that crashed while attempting to land at around 8:45 am.

The crash claimed the lives of all five people onboard, including Pawar, triggering an outpouring of grief and condolences from leaders across parties. He was travelling to Baramati to address a public rally scheduled for 11 am ahead of the Zilla Parishad elections when the aircraft crashed into a field during landing.

The internet has been flooded with horrifying visuals of the crash, showing the seriousness and devastation of the impact. The aircraft can be seen completely engulfed in flames, firmly establishing that no one onboard could have survived the ill-fated crash. Visuals show charred remains of the private aircraft scattered across the site, with police and other officials present.

Several political leaders have offered their condolences following the tragic incident.

President Droupadi Murmu expressed deep sadness over the tragic plane crash in Baramati, which killed five people, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The President took to her official account on ‘X’ to offer her condolences:

“The news of the death of several people, including Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar, in a plane crash in Baramati, Maharashtra, is extremely tragic. The untimely demise of Ajit Pawar ji is an irreparable loss. He will always be remembered for his special contribution to the development of Maharashtra, especially in the cooperative sector. I express my deep condolences to his family, supporters, and admirers. May God grant strength to the families of all others who lost their lives in this accident to bear this blow.”

PM Modi expressed sadness over the plane crash that killed five people, including Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar. The Prime Minister took to his official social media account on platform ‘X’ and said, “Saddened by the tragic air crash in Baramati, Maharashtra. My thoughts are with all those who lost their loved ones in the crash. Praying for strength and courage for the bereaved families in this moment of profound grief.”

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh expressed deep shock over the tragic incident. “Deeply shocked and pained to learn about the untimely demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister, Shri Ajit Pawar. Throughout his long public life, he remained committed to the development and prosperity of Maharashtra. He was known for his compassion for the people and his unwavering dedication to public service. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, well-wishers, and admirers,” tweeted the Union Defence Minister.

Congress MP and Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi expressed sadness over the ill-fated plane crash and offered his condolences on the social media platform ‘X’. “The news of the demise of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar ji and his fellow travellers in an airplane accident today is extremely heartbreaking. In this moment of grief, I stand with the people of Maharashtra. I extend my condolences to the entire Pawar family and their loved ones during this hour of sorrow.”

On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s death in the plane crash, Shiv Sena (UBT) spokesperson Anand Dubey said, “The news of Ajit Dada’s passing in Maharashtra has reached us, and it has left us deeply saddened and emotional. Ajit Pawar was not just a politician; he was known as a true people’s leader, a leader without enemies. It is hard to believe that he is no longer with us, because Ajit Dada worked for everyone, whether in Pune, Baramati, Maharashtra, or Mumbai.”

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Sanjay Raut, on Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar’s demise and the death of five others in the aircraft crash, said, “This is very sad and tragic news. Today is a dark day in Maharashtra’s political and social life. When the news came this morning that the plane carrying Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar from Mumbai to Baramati had met with an accident, we were all praying for his safety. His passing has brought a mountain of grief upon Maharashtra. There was a special bond between Baramati and him, and it is a strange coincidence that he passed away there. I never imagined that we would have to pay tribute to him like this.”

Congress MP Pramod Tiwari said, “The details received about the plane crash are very upsetting and sad.”

Karnataka Deputy CM DK Shivakumar expressed shock over the tragic incident and took to social media platform X to offer his condolences: “Shocked and deeply saddened by the untimely passing of Maharashtra Deputy CM Shri Ajit Pawar in a tragic plane crash. His sudden demise is a great loss to public life and to Maharashtra politics, where he served with experience and resolve. My heartfelt condolences to his family and supporters, and prayers for strength in this hour of grief. Om Shanti.”

Dr Sudhakar K, Member of the Standing Committee on Finance and the Consultative Committee for the MEA and Central Silk Board, took to social media platform X to express his grief. “Extremely shocked and saddened by the tragic news of the passing of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar ji in a plane crash. My heartfelt condolences to the Pawar family, his supporters, and the people of Maharashtra. Om Shanti,” he wrote.

Union Minister HD Kumaraswamy also expressed his sadness, saying, “It is very shocking and sad news. I express my condolences to his family.”

Union Minister Giriraj Singh said, “This is a really unfortunate incident. Reports are coming in that Ajit Pawar was also onboard. If it is true, then this is a highly unfortunate day. This is a heart-rending incident. May God give strength to the affected families. He was not just the Deputy CM of Maharashtra but also a well-known politician in the country. This is an irreparable loss.”

Union Minister CR Paatil said, “Ajit Pawar ji had made a place for himself in Maharashtra politics. This is a huge loss for his family and the state. The dynamics of politics in Maharashtra will change with his passing.”

On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s death in the plane crash, Congress MP Vivek Tankha said, “I had no information about this at all; I just found out from you, and it is very concerning. I will pray to God that everyone is safe because Ajit Pawar was a great leader. We have very long-standing relations with Pawar Sahab and his family, so we sincerely hope that everyone remains safe and alive. We will pray to God that no one is harmed in this crash.”

Andhra Pradesh CM N. Chandrababu Naidu offered his condolences on social media and said, “Shocked and deeply saddened by the sudden passing of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar ji in a plane crash this morning. I extend my heartfelt condolences to his family, friends, and followers. Om Shanti.”

NCP–Sharadchandra Pawar leader Anil Deshmukh broke down after Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar was killed in an aircraft crash in Pune district.

On Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar’s death in the plane crash, BJD Vice President Debi Prasad Mishra said, “This is very sad news. Ajit Pawar was a respected leader of Maharashtra. He had even formed his own faction, separate from Sharad Pawar’s party. He was serving as the Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra and had previously handled the Irrigation Ministry. He had a strong influence in Pune, Baramati, and across Maharashtra.”

On the death of Maharashtra Deputy CM Ajit Pawar, BJP MP Ashok Chavan said, “This is our personal loss. His passing has left a huge vacuum in Maharashtra politics. I express my tributes to him.”

On the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in the aircraft crash, BJP MP Mayank Nayak said, “We have received the news of the passing of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and NCP leader in a plane accident today. I have personally had the opportunity to work with him during his time in Maharashtra politics. He was always dedicated to serving the people, and his passing is a huge loss for the people of Maharashtra and the nation. May God grant peace to his soul, and may He give strength to his family and all his well-wishers to bear this tragedy. This is my prayer to God.”

Union Minister Nitin Gadkari offered his condolences and said, “Ajit Pawar’s death is unfortunate. He was my close friend in politics, and we also had familial relations. His passing is a huge loss. On behalf of the party, I pay my tributes to him.”

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra expressed her condolences and said, “The news of the demise of Deputy Chief Minister Shri Ajit Pawar ji and others in the horrific plane crash in Maharashtra is extremely heartbreaking. May God grant peace to the departed souls. Deepest condolences to revered Sharad Pawar ji, Supriya Sule ji, their entire family, and the supporters of revered Ajit Pawar ji.”

Congress MP K. C. Venugopal expressed grief over the plane crash and said, “Shocked and stunned by the news of Maharashtra Deputy CM Shri Ajit Pawar ji’s untimely demise in a tragic plane crash. It is a massive loss for Maharashtra and the country. I convey my sincere condolences to Pawar saheb, Supriya Sule ji, his entire family, and followers in this difficult time. He left an indelible mark through his contributions to public life and administration.”

Delhi CM Rekha Gupta took to her social media account on platform “X” to express her grief and said, “The news of the untimely demise of the Honorable Deputy Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Shri Ajit Pawar ji, in a most unfortunate plane crash is extremely heartbreaking and shocking. His passing is an irreplaceable loss to Indian politics, particularly in Maharashtra. I express my deepest condolences to the bereaved family members and his supporters. May God grant a place at His divine feet to the departed soul and bestow strength and solace upon the grieving family to bear this immense sorrow. ॐ शांति।”

Kerala Congress leaders expressed their condolences by posting on the state’s official handle on the social media platform ‘X’. “Deeply saddened by the tragic news of Shri Ajit Pawar’s passing in the plane crash in Baramati today. His leadership and contribution to public life will always be remembered. Heartfelt condolences to his family, colleagues, and all those affected by this terrible loss. May his soul rest in peace. 🙏”

Maharashtra

Mumbai: Municipal Commissioner praises engineers of Project Department for work on shifting high voltage power towers in Bhandup

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A project to purify 2000 million litres of water per day is being set up by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation in the Bhandup Complex, Mumbai. Under this project, the engineers of the Water Supply Project Department have saved the Municipal Corporation about Rs 20,000. Rs 7.48 crore in the work of shifting high voltage power towers. Taking note of this remarkable achievement, Municipal Commissioner Ashwini Bhide presented certificates of appreciation to the concerned engineers at the Municipal Corporation Headquarters today (June 19, 2026).

Executive Engineer Rajesh Kapdanis, Assistant Engineer Rishikesh Vartak, Second Engineer Gururaj Iwale, Second Engineer Subodh Nakhrekar are included in this. Deputy Commissioner (Municipal Commissioner Office) Prashant Gaikwad, Deputy Commissioner (Special Engineering) Parshottam Malwade, Chief Engineer (Water Supply Project) Chandrakant Choudhary were present on the occasion.

The 2000 million litres per day Water Treatment Project (WTP) at Bhandup Complex is going to be one of the largest water treatment projects in Asia. Based on modern technology, the project is being developed in a minimum footprint and as per the concept of zero waste water discharge. Since the Extra High Voltage (EHV) power transmission lines of M/s Tata Power Company Limited pass through the proposed project site, it was necessary to relocate these towers. Accordingly, the Municipal Corporation has initiated the process of shifting these power transmission lines from Tata Power Company.

Tata Power Company has submitted an estimated cost of Rs. 14.70 crore including goods and services tax for this work. As per the provisions of the agreement, the necessary advance has been paid to the project contractor M/s Welspun Enterprises Limited. As per the relocation plan, 5 new towers were erected in an area of ​​about 500 metres in length to relocate the existing 3 high voltage towers. The work of shifting of power transmission lines was successfully completed in February 2026. 2 out of the 3 old towers have been completely removed. Under the guidance of Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar, the engineers of the Water Supply Project Department during the execution of the work noticed that the estimated cost submitted by Tata Power Company was relatively high. Accordingly, the engineers of the Water Supply Project Department re-evaluated the cost based on the actual work done for shifting of high voltage towers. The applicable rebates and payment of the salvage value of the removed towers were continuously followed up. Thereafter, Tata Power Company has approved the refund of an amount of Rs. 5 crore 76 lakhs. The Mumbai Municipal Corporation has completed the submission of the financial statement of the actual cost. In addition, the Municipal Corporation will also get the amount of the salvage value of the removed towers. In total, the actual cost of the work of shifting of high voltage towers is Rs. 6 crore 69 lakhs. Direct savings of Rs. 12 crore 46 lakhs as against Rs. 5 crore 76 lakhs initially paid. In addition, as per the provisions of the agreement, the Municipal Corporation has achieved financial savings of about Rs. 100000. Rs. 7 crore 48 lakhs on account of 10% overheads and profit of the contractor as well as GST amount. In addition, further financial savings are expected in the form of salvage value of the removed towers.

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Business

Mukesh Ambani unveils 5-way roadmap to propel RIL’s growth ahead

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Mumbai, June 19: Reliance Industries Ltd (RIL) Chairman Mukesh Ambani on Friday outlined five major value creation pathways for the Group to create a diversified growth architecture spanning energy, materials, digital infrastructure, artificial intelligence, consumer businesses, and global exports.

Addressing Reliance shareholders, Ambani said: “First, the O2C business, the mainstay of Reliance so far, will increase earnings as soon as the geopolitical situation improves. Simultaneously, and more importantly, we are reinventing this business to create a new revenue stream less vulnerable to external volatility. We will convert all the crude oil we process into new materials ─ carbon fibre, speciality materials, green chemicals, and much more. This new vision will drive margin expansion and lay the foundation for our oil-to-chemicals-and-new materials business.”

He further stated that the second pathway comprises the new energy business, which has entered the phase of accelerated commissioning and early revenues. The integrated solar manufacturing and advanced battery platform will achieve one of the world’s lowest costs of RTC green power. It will also enable the world’s most competitive green hydrogen and green chemicals ecosystem.

Besides, the underground coal gasification business has immense growth potential, and the CBG business is ready to be scaled up as the world’s largest bioenergy business, he added.

Ambani identified the third path of growth as Reliance Intelligence, with AI becoming a multi-trillion-dollar business globally. “Reliance Intelligence will lead this business in India. The infrastructure for it is being built at breakneck speed, and it will fully operationalise over the next couple of years,” he remarked.

The Reliance Chairman listed the FMCG business as a new multi-billion-dollar growth engine with plans to grow it into India’s largest FMCG company, and among the biggest in the world.

“It is already among the top few players in various categories and is expanding globally. It recently entered Europe and Africa and will enter many more global markets going forward. Our FMCG growth path is neatly aligned to that of Reliance Retail. Both are anchored in our plan to create India’s most advanced manufacturing platform and a distribution and exports platform with tens of thousands of small, medium and large partners,” he maintained.

Ambani highlighted exports as the fifth path of the group’s growth. “Reliance has long been India’s largest merchandise exporter, with a proven globally competitive world-class platform for energy and materials exports. Leveraging this experience, Reliance aims to become an anchor institution for developing a globally competitive, multi-sector export hub, with a target to enable $125-150 billion in exports by 2032. In this way, we will enlarge global markets for Made in India brands,” he observed.

Hiring the best talent for this new venture has already begun. This scalable platform will strengthen India’s export ecosystem and external economic resilience. This ambition is not only about creating a larger Reliance. It is about creating a stronger India, Ambani added.

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Maharashtra

Potholes on Mumbai roads should be filled according to scientific methods and set standards : Additional Municipal Commissioner

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Cement concreting of about 1700 km of roads in Mumbai Metropolitan Region has been completed, and concreting of the remaining roads is in progress. Due to this comprehensive initiative, the number of potholes on the roads and the problems arising from them have significantly reduced during this monsoon season. This has also resulted in huge savings in the cost of filling the potholes. To effectively deal with the problem of potholes arising during the monsoon season on the roads within the municipal limits, the engineers of the road department should work with more vigilance and responsibility. Every complaint received regarding potholes should be disposed of within 24 hours. The bad patches should be brought to the fore immediately. Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijit Bangar directed that the engineers concerned should ensure that the potholes on the roads are filled with high quality by the contractors appointed as per the zone, following the prescribed technical standards and scientific methodology. Bangar also clarified that the secondary engineers appointed on a bat-by-bat basis should regularly visit the roads in their area on two wheels, know the current condition of the roads and ensure immediate action for necessary repairs. A meeting of the Assistant Engineers of the Roads and Transport Department was held at the Municipal Headquarters in which a detailed review of the progress of pre-monsoon works, preparations and necessary measures was taken. At that time, Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar gave various instructions. Deputy Commissioner (Infrastructure) Girish Nikam, Chief Engineer (Roads) Mr. Engineers including Mantiya Swamy were present.

Additional Municipal Commissioner (Projects) Abhijeet Bangar said that the Municipal Corporation has started a road concreting program to solve the problem of potholes on the roads / make the roads pothole-free. Under this, concreting of about 1700 km of cement roads has been completed. The concreting of the remaining roads will be done after the monsoon. Therefore, in future, more and more roads will be cemented and the problem of potholes will definitely reduce. Apart from this, there will be cost savings as well.

If the trench dug for utility channels is not refilled as per the technical standards, then during the monsoon, water enters the road structure. Due to which the strength of the road decreases and the process of road collapse starts. Keeping this in mind, various steps are being taken by the Mumbai Municipal Corporation to avoid inconvenience to the citizens. It is guaranteed that a pothole filled once using mastic will not open again. Accordingly, the Municipal Corporation has appointed zone-wise contractors for the maintenance of the roads. Engineers should periodically review their manpower, machinery and material stock. In particular, the availability of mastic cookers, pothole filling schedule, mastic cooker rounds should be coordinated. It should be strictly ensured that potholes on the roads are filled as per the laid down technical standards and scientific methods. Bangar directed that the potholes should be filled when they are small in size (6 inches). Bangar said that along with the road engineers, 227 secondary engineers have been appointed in the municipal corporation for a total of 227 bats (one for each electoral ward). These secondary engineers should inspect the roads in their assigned section daily and if any potholes are found, they should be filled immediately using a rectangle. They should go around on a two-wheeler and inspect the roads in their work area. The complaints of potholes should be coordinated through the central system and the department office and resolved in a timely manner. Instead of waiting for complaints, potholes should be recorded and filled on their own. The Municipal Corporation is responsible for both the Eastern Expressway (18.6 km – Mulund to Shiv) and the Western Expressway (27.6 km – Dahisar Checkpoint to Mahim) in Mumbai. Along with this, the responsibility of the Eastern Freeway (17 km) also falls on the Municipal Corporation. The Road Department should take full care that there are no potholes on these three highways. Other government authorities in Mumbai should also take proper care of the roads under their jurisdiction, and the Municipal Corporation administration should follow suit so that the potholes are filled immediately, Bangar also said. If potholes occur on the roads within the Defect Liability Period (DLP), no premium should be paid. Moreover, the project roads and roads should be filled free of cost by the contractor concerned within the Defect Liability Period (DLP) as per the terms and conditions of the tender within a limited time frame. The Municipal Corporation should not pay any compensation/premium for filling these potholes. Because the condition of maintenance/upkeep is included in the contract itself. On the contrary, if the number of potholes on the roads has increased during the period of liability for defects, then punitive action should be taken, Bangar said, explaining the project roads, defects and emphasised on improving the road.

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