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This report covers the aftermath of a major tragedy in Baramati, Maharashtra, where a speaker has called for calm and restraint. The speaker emphasized that the incident was 'purely an accident' and explicitly rejected any political angles being attributed to the crash. Describing the event as an 'immense loss' for the state of Maharashtra, the speaker noted that the region has lost a tall leader whose absence cannot be filled. The transcript highlights a plea to avoid politicising the tragedy, focusing instead on the scale of the loss. While the introductory text attributes statements to a political patriarch regarding a family and state loss, the subsequent address transitions into a lecture on the power of speech and religious topics. The programme underscores the gravity of the situation in Baramati and the call for a unified, non-political response to the tragedy.

On this Special Report, the focus is on the tragic demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has called for a thorough investigation into the incident, stating, 'I need proper investigation under the supervision of Supreme Court only.' Expressing deep shock, Banerjee highlighted the lack of safety and security for political leaders in the country, regardless of their party affiliation. She noted that while Ajit Pawar was with the ruling party, recent social media reports suggested he was considering leaving the BJP. The Chief Minister emphasized that she only trusts the Supreme Court, alleging that other agencies have been compromised. The bulletin also notes that politicians across party lines have offered condolences to the Pawar family following the accident in Baramati, which many have termed unnatural and deserving of a detailed probe.

On this Special Report, India Today’s Gaurav Sawant discusses the tragic plane crash at Baramati airport with aviation experts Air Marshal Sanjeev Kapoor and Squad Leader Debolina Das. Air Marshal Kapoor, former Director General of Flight Safety and Inspections, notes that 'the pilots in all probability would have found difficulty in sighting the runway on final approach' due to morning haze and the lack of instrument landing aids at the VFR airfield. The panel examines the complexities of tabletop runways and the 'displaced threshold' at Baramati, which reduces available landing distance. Squad Leader Debolina Das highlights the potential for a 'stall' during a tight turn and the blinding effect of the morning sun. The discussion covers the high experience level of the pilot in command, who had over 15,000 flying hours, and the added pressure of carrying a VIP. The experts explain how the investigation will use the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR) to simulate the flight path and determine the exact cause of the accident.

UGC’s new equity rules have triggered an unusual backlash from the right wing.