New Delhi: President Droupadi Murmu, Home Minister Amit Shah and other political leaders from across the nation have expressed grief over the death of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash in Baramati on Thursday morning.

Posting her message in Hindi on her official ‘X’ account, the President has said, “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 saddening. 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 deepest condolences to his family, supporters and admirers. May God also give strength to the families of all those who died in the accident to bear this shock.”

In his personal account, Home Minister Amit Shah has tweeted, “I am deeply saddened by the news of the loss of Maharashtra’s Deputy Chief Minister and our senior NDA colleague Ajit Pawar in a tragic accident today. Words cannot express the dedication Ajit Pawar gave to the welfare of every section of Maharashtra over the past three and a half decades. Whenever we met, he would have lengthy discussions on various topics related to the welfare of the people of Maharashtra. His passing is a personal loss for me as well as the NDA family. I express my deepest condolences to the Pawar family. In this hour of grief, the entire NDA stands firmly with the bereaved Pawar family. May God grant the departed soul a place in His feet. Om Shanti Shanti Shanti (sic)”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has also expressed shock and sorrow at the Pawar, adding that the late political leader had worked diligently for the development of his state. In his personal ‘X’ page, the Defence Minister has said, “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.”

PTI has reported that Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi has said that she was saddened by the news that she received early morning. Chaturvedi has also said, “Ajit Pawar ji himself was among the young leadership of Maharashtra, committed and dedicated to the cause of the state. Whatever responsibility he took on, he fulfilled it with complete commitment. We had our differences, but we also had the opportunity to work together. I met him many times on matters connected with the Pawar family. For me, this loss is deeply painful.”

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Chandigarh (PTI): Several schools in Chandigarh were evacuated after they received bomb threat emails on Wednesday, said police.

After the school authorities informed the police about bomb threat emails, policemen reached school premises and conducted thorough searches of the educational institutions, they said.

At least five schools, including private ones, received the threat emails.

Bomb disposal and sniffer dog squads were rushed to school premises to carry out searches.

Students and school staff have been evacuated, they said, adding that security was stepped up around the schools.

Students on way to the schools were sent back home, they said.

The school authorities told the police that they received bomb threat emails on Wednesday morning and thereafter, they informed the police.

The incident comes close on the heels of similar incidents in Amritsar, Jalandhar and Patiala in Punjab and Ambala in Haryana, where some schools got similar threats which later turned out to be hoaxes.