4 minutes of readingPuneUpdated: Jan 29, 2026 04:59 pm IST
Every visit of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar to his hometown of Baramati, where died in an accident On Wednesday, it invariably included a detailed review of the Government Medical College, established just six years ago.
“From the color of the chairs in the auditorium to the progress of each department, Ajit Dada meticulously supervised every aspect, determined to make it a world-class medical institution. Unfortunately, little did we know then that one day an autopsy of his body would be conducted in that very institution, his mortal remains would be preserved and DNA samples would be taken,” said Dr Manoj Khomane, Health Officer, Baramati Taluka.
As the last rites of Ajit Pawar were being performed at the Vidya Pratishthan ground in Baramati, the university authorities and medical officials are still coming to terms with the The harsh reality is that his “Ajit Dada” is no more.
“We were all in shock”
Dr Khomane recalled that they received a call from the Sub-Divisional Office (SDO), Baramati, asking for an additional ambulance at around 8:47 on Wednesday.
“Our ambulances, as per VIP protocol, were already parked at the airstrip and praying fervently that nothing untoward had happened, we reached the spot. At 8.49 am, the crowd outside the university had become aggressive and no one was in the mood to listen. We were all in a state of shock,” he added.
As health department teams headed towards Baramati from PuneIdentification of the corpses was of primary importance. “There were two women and three men. The bodies were charred, but police teams were able to identify Ajit Pawar’s body from his wristwatch. The name tag on Vidip Jadhav’s belt also helped identify the officer. CM’s Personal Security Officer. The third male body was wearing a pilot’s uniform,” said Dr. Khomane.
However, beyond the challenges of carefully handling the bodies was the immense emotional strain of having to deal with the loss of their leaders.
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“There was not a dry eye in the room while the post-mortem procedures were being carried out,” recalled Dr Khomane, who was in the section as an assistant.
‘Atmosphere of mourning’
Dr Rajesh Umap, medical superintendent of Punyashlok Ahilyadevi Holkar Government Medical College and Hospital, Baramati, admitted that his teams were overwhelmed and distressed.
“Our work was carried out in this atmosphere of pain and we ensured that every step was taken with precision. Initially a CT scan of all the bodies was performed to assess whether there were foreign bodies in the respiratory tract, and then post-mortem examinations were carried out,” said Dr Umap.
While the bodies were charred, the team also observed fractures due to the impact of the crash. A team of experts from Pune Regional Forensic Laboratory was also present at the spot and as per police directives, DNA samples including teeth and femur bones among others were collected.
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Meanwhile, several doctors and doctors spoke about Ajit Pawar’s active role in raising concerns on medical issues.
For Dr Khomane, who is also the working president of the Maharashtra Association of Medical Officers (MAGMO), one of the fondest memories is that her “Ajit Dada” was also a go-to person to expedite the pending work.
“The state had increased the subsidy for non-practitioners under the Seventh Pay Commission. But it was Ajit Pawar’s active role that helped implement this decision that benefited so many medical officers,” Dr Khomane said.
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