New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday voiced deep concern over reports of the helicopter carrying Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi going missing following a rough landing in northwestern Iran, and said India stands in solidarity with the Iranian people in this hour of distress.
The PM posted on X:
“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.”
According to Iranian media reports, the helicopter carrying Iranian President Raisi and senior officials in northwestern Iran “has suffered a crash with no information available yet on potential injuries or damage”.
President Raisi was returning from a ceremony to open a dam on Iran’s border with Azerbaijan when his helicopter crashed upon landing in Varzaqan region on Sunday, IRNA reported.
Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian, Governor of East Azarbaijan Province Malek Rahmati, Tabriz Friday prayer leader Hojjatoleslam Al Hashem and a number of others were also on board the helicopter.
Rescue and relief teams have been dispatched to the area and search operations continue.
However, foggy weather and the impassability of the area has made the search operations difficult.
Interior Minister Ahmad Vahidi told Iran’s state television that due to the tough weather conditions, it may take time for the search and rescue team to reach the site of the crash.
He expressed hope that the team will reach the site soon and convey more information.
Minister of Health Bahram Einollahi, who is also present in the area, has said that all the medical equipment, including ambulance buses, specialist doctors and surgeons have been dispatched to the area of the crash to help possible injured people.
President of the Iranian Red Crescent Society (IRCS), Pir-Hossein Koulivand, stated that the number of relief teams in the region has been doubled from 20 to 40.
He mentioned that the teams are facing challenging weather conditions and the area is difficult to access, but the search efforts are ongoing.
Koulivand added that the relief teams utilized drones for search operations, but the weather conditions have made it impossible to conduct aerial searches.
UNI
