Prime Minister Narendra Modi offered his condolences following the tragic demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi in a fatal helicopter crash on Sunday.
In a post on social media platform X, PM Modi acknowledged Raisi’s contribution to strengthening the Bharat-Iran bilateral relationship.
“Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening Bharat-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. Bharat stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” expressed PM Modi.
The helicopter carrying Raisi and his accompanying delegation crashed in the Dizmar forest, nestled between the cities of Varzaqan and Jolfa in East Azarbaijan Province on Sunday, as reported by State media Press TV.
It was reported that others on board the chopper included the country’s foreign minister, Amir-Abdollahian, East Azarbaijan Governor, Malek Rahmati, Friday Prayers leader of the city of Tabriz, Seyyed Mohammad Ali Al-e Hashem, and a member of the President’s bodyguard team, Mahdi Mousavi. The helicopter’s pilot, co-pilot, and crew were also among those on board.
Nine people were on the helicopter that crashed in northwest Iran, as reported by Tasnim News.
Raisi and his delegation were returning from a ceremony to inaugurate a dam on the Aras River with Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev.
Following the announcement of the deaths of Raisi and his team, the Iranian cabinet held an emergency session headed by Vice President Mohammad Mokhber, as reported by Press TV.
Raisi was heading to the city of Tabriz on Sunday afternoon when the chopper ran into heavy fog.
Meanwhile, an Al Jazeera reporter commented, “looking at the wreckage of the helicopter, the chances of anyone surviving in such an accident are quite slim. We see that the whole cabin of the helicopter is completely burned.”
Iranian authorities stated that “some of the bodies were burned beyond recognition, and that they have not been able to identify who is who at the site,” according to the publication.
Drone footage of the wreckage taken by the Red Crescent was carried on state media. It showed the crash site on a steep, wooded hillside, with little remaining of the helicopter beyond a blue and white tail, as reported by CNN.
