India declares one-day state mourning on Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi’s demise in helicopter crash

India will observe a one-day state mourning on Tuesday (May 21) as a mark of respect to Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, who passed away in a helicopter crash, the Union Home Ministry announced.

The national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout the country on all buildings where it is regularly flown and there will be no official entertainment during the period.

"As a mark of respect to the departed dignitaries, the government of India has decided that there will be one day's state mourning on May 21 (Tuesday) throughout India," the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said.

"On the day of mourning, the national flag will be flown at half-mast throughout India on all buildings where the national flag is flown regularly and there will be no official entertainment on the day," the statement further added.

Earlier, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi expressed deep condolences on the Iranian president's passing.

He took to his official X handle and wrote, "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. India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow."

Raisi died in a plane crash reported on Sunday (May 19) evening.

"The president of the Islamic Republic of Iran, Ayatollah Ebrahim Raisi, had an accident while serving and performing his duty for the people of Iran and was martyred," stated the local Mehr news agency.

As per the report, the helicopter carrying Raisi met with an accident in the Jolfa region of East Azerbaijan province as it flew in bad weather conditions.

The accident took place in Dizmar's mountainous protected forest area near the town of Varzaghan, as reported by the official IRNA news agency.

Iran announces 5 days of mourning

Iran's Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei offered condolences to the people of his country and announced five days of public mourning for Raisi.

"I announce five days of public mourning and offer my condolences to the dear people of Iran," Khamenei said in a statement carried by the official news agency IRNA.

Meanwhile, Lebanon and Syria also announced three days of national mourning for Raisi and foreign minister who lost their lives in the crash.

"I can't tell you how sorry I am about this incident that happened. Especially that the foreign minister had become a friend," Lebanon's Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib told reporters on Monday.

(With inputs from agencies)