Death Of Iranian President Raisi: India Declares State Mourning On May 21

New Delhi: The Indian government on Monday declared a one-day state mourning on May 21 as a mark of respect for Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi who died in a helicopter crash.

The country’s Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and seven other officials were also killed in the crash.

“H.E. Dr Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran and H.E. Hossein Amir-Abdollahian, Foreign Minister of the Islamic Republic of Iran, have passed away in a helicopter crash. As a mark of respect to the departed souls, the Government of India has declared a one-day state mourning on May 21, 2024 (Tuesday) throughout the country. On the day of mourning, the National Flag will be flown at half-mast on all buildings where it is flown regularly, and there will be no official entertainment on the day,” The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in a statement.

The President’s chopper went missing since late Sunday afternoon. Rescue teams, which struggled with search operations because of unfavourable weather, finally spotted the charred wreckage of the helicopter earlier on Monday.

Expressing his condolence, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was “deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise” of Raisi, adding that “India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.”

“Deeply shocked to hear of the passing away of Iran’s President Dr Ebrahim Raisi and Foreign Minister H. Amir-Abdollahian in the helicopter crash. Recall my many meetings with them, most recently in January 2024. Our condolences to their families. We stand with the people of Iran at time of this tragedy,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar wrote said on X.