No School Holiday in Mumbai Today Despite Maharashtra's 3-Day Mourning

Schools across Mumbai remained open today, despite the Maharashtra government declaring a three-day period of state mourning following the death of Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar in a plane crash. Education authorities clarified that academic activities would continue as scheduled, easing confusion among parents and students amid reports of official closures.

The state government announced a three-day mourning period beginning yesterday as a mark of respect to Pawar, who died in the crash. During this period, the national flag will be flown at half-mast on all government buildings where it is routinely displayed, and official entertainment events have been cancelled, according to a communication issued by the General Administration Department.

Several schools in Mumbai informed parents that classes would be conducted as usual today. Messages circulated by institutions, including ICSE schools in suburban areas such as Kandivli, confirmed that there was no holiday declared for schools, despite the ongoing mourning across the state. Education officials reiterated that mourning protocols do not automatically mandate the closure of educational institutions unless specifically notified.

The government, however, ordered the closure of all state government offices yesterday as part of the mourning observances. These offices are expected to resume normal functioning today. The instructions were issued by the protocol section of the General Administration Department and signed by Under Secretary H.P. Baviskar, directing all concerned authorities to ensure immediate compliance.

Ajit Pawar, 66, and four others were killed when an aircraft carrying them crashed in Pune district near Baramati while attempting to land. The state government confirmed that Pawar’s last rites will be performed with full state honours at Vidya Pratishtan, an educational institution founded by the Pawar family, at 11 am tomorrow.