The Bharatiya national flag was flown at half-mast on Tuesday at the Rashtrapati Bhavan as the nation observed a day of national mourning following the death of Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi and other Iranian officials in a helicopter crash.
The Ministry of Home Affairs also announced that no official entertainment would be held throughout the day as a mark of respect.
A video posted by the news agency ANI showed the flag flying at half-mast. The Iranian embassy in New Delhi also lowered its flag on Monday shortly after the announcement of Ebrahim Raisi’s death.
#WATCH | Delhi: National flag at Rashtrapati Bhavan flies at half-mast as one-day national mourning is being observed in the country following the death of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister and other high-ranking officials in a helicopter crash. pic.twitter.com/xZZXGiCdpv
— ANI (@ANI) May 21, 2024
Ebrahim Raisi was found dead on Monday, a day after the helicopter he and his companions were traveling in crashed near Jolfa, a city on the border with Azerbaijan, approximately 600 kilometers northwest of the Iranian capital, Tehran. According to local media reports, Ebrahim Raisi was returning from a visit to neighboring Azerbaijan.
ALSO READ: “Bharat Honors Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi: State Mourning Declared for May 21st”
There were nine people onboard the helicopter, including Ebrahim Raisi, Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian, the governor of Eastern Azerbaijan province Malek Rahmati, Tabriz’s Friday prayer Imam Mohammad Ali Alehashem, a pilot, copilot, crew chief, head of security, and another bodyguard. All were reported dead in the crash.
Bharatiya Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed his condolences over the demise of the Iranian President. “Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening the India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow,” he wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Deeply saddened and shocked by the tragic demise of Dr. Seyed Ebrahim Raisi, President of the Islamic Republic of Iran. His contribution to strengthening India-Iran bilateral relationship will always be remembered. My heartfelt condolences to his family and the people of Iran.…
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) May 20, 2024
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar also expressed his grief. “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 this time of tragedy,” he said.
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…
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) May 20, 2024
Bharat’s gesture of flying the national flag at half-mast and the absence of official entertainment activities reflect the country’s respect and solidarity with Iran during this period of mourning.
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