'Deeply Saddened, Shocked': PM Modi Extends Condolences Over Iran President Raisi's Death

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday extended condolences over Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's death in a helicopter crash which took place on Sunday. He said that India stands with Iran in this time of sorrow.

The helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi and foreign minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and other to officials crashed in the northwestern region of the country on Sunday.

Earlier, Iran's state media, without elaborating further, had said that the crash could be a "hard landing".

PM Modi had earlier expressed concern over reports of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi's helicopter crash and said that India stands in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress.

Taking to X, PM Modi said, "Deeply concerned by reports regarding President Raisi’s helicopter flight today. We stand in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress, and pray for well being of the President and his entourage."

The abrupt crashing of Raisi's helicopter prompted mass search and rescue operations to find the chopper and the people on board.

Meanwhile, Turkey deployed drones to help Iranian forces find the missing helicopter. These drones have spotted a "source of heat" in the northwest region. Citing the head of Red Crescent in Iran's East Azerbaijan region, local media stated that rescue teams are heading towards the coordinates shared by the drone.

Initially it had been reported that the helicopter had made an emergency landing due to bad weather, but later it was reported that the chopper likely crashed due to the adverse weather conditions.

The United States, Italy and the European Union were closely monitoring the situation, while the EU decided to offer intel regarding the location and Raisi's helicopter's whereabouts.

Notably, Russia had also deployed planes and helicopters to assist the search and rescue operations that are underway in Iran.