New Delhi/IBNS, Jan. 28 -- Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Tuesday mourned the demise of Maharashtra Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar, who was killed in a plane crash at Baramati earlier in the day, media reports said.

In a post on X, Modi described Pawar as a mass leader with a strong grassroots connection.

The crash occurred during landing at Baramati airport, around an hour after the aircraft took off from Mumbai at approximately 8 am.

Four others on board, including the pilot and Pawar's security personnel, also lost their lives in the accident.

Visuals from the crash site showed fire, thick plumes of smoke and scattered debris of the aircraft.

Pawar was the nephew of former Maharashtra Chief Minister and NCP chief Sharad Pawar, ...