Prime Minister Narendra Modi has reportedly been invited by Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian to attend the funeral ceremonies of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, according to diplomatic sources and media reports.

Iran is preparing to hold extensive state funeral and burial ceremonies for Khamenei, who served as the country’s Supreme Leader for more than three decades. The ceremonies are expected to take place over several days and are likely to witness the participation of senior leaders and dignitaries from across the world.

According to reports, the Iranian leadership has extended formal invitations to several international leaders, including Prime Minister Modi, as part of the planned state mourning events.

However, there has been no official confirmation so far from India’s Ministry of External Affairs regarding whether Prime Minister Modi will attend the ceremonies.

The invitation comes amid longstanding diplomatic and strategic ties between India and Iran. New Delhi had earlier conveyed condolences following Khamenei’s death and reiterated its support for peace and stability in the region.

Iran had earlier announced that the state funeral ceremonies, initially postponed, would be held between late June and early July. Authorities in Tehran are expecting a massive turnout for the final rites, with millions of mourners anticipated to participate in the ceremonies.

Ayatollah Ali Khamenei remained Iran’s highest political and religious authority from 1989 until his death, playing a central role in shaping the country’s domestic and foreign policies for decades.

With the southwest monsoon recording a sharp rainfall deficit and concerns mounting over the impact of El Nino, the Centre has identified 315 districts across the country as vulnerable to below-normal rainfall during the ongoing kharif season.

According to the Union Agriculture Ministry, the country had recorded a rainfall deficit of around 43 per cent till June 23, prompting authorities to initiate a nationwide preparedness exercise to minimise the impact on agriculture and rural livelihoods.

The identified districts have been categorised based on irrigation coverage, which determines their ability to withstand prolonged dry spells. Of the total, 111 districts with irrigation coverage of less than 25 per cent have been classified as the most vulnerable. Another 76 districts with irrigation coverage between 25 and 50 per cent fall under the medium-risk category, while 128 districts with irrigation coverage exceeding 50 per cent have been placed in the relatively lower-risk category.

Officials have directed state governments to activate district-level contingency plans to protect crop production during the crucial monsoon season. These plans include measures such as promoting drought-tolerant crops, revising sowing schedules and strengthening water conservation efforts.

The government has also set up dedicated monitoring mechanisms, including an El Nino Monitoring Cell and a Crop Weather Watch Group, to closely track weather developments and coordinate response measures.

Meteorological agencies have forecast below-normal monsoon rainfall this year, with El Nino conditions expected to strengthen during the June-September period. The weather phenomenon is historically associated with weaker monsoons in India and can adversely affect agricultural output, water availability and rural incomes.

The southwest monsoon contributes nearly 70 per cent of India’s annual rainfall and remains critical for the country’s agriculture sector, particularly for rain-fed crops such as rice, pulses and oilseeds.

Delhi-NCR experienced rain, thunderstorms and strong winds on Tuesday, bringing much-needed relief from the prevailing heat conditions across the region. Several parts of the national capital, along with Noida, Gurugram and Ghaziabad, witnessed a sudden change in weather, accompanied by dust storms and gusty winds.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast more spells of light rain and thunderstorms in Delhi and adjoining areas. The weather department said partly cloudy conditions are likely to persist, with thunderstorms, lightning and strong surface winds expected during the afternoon and evening hours over the next few days.

According to the IMD, wind speeds during thunderstorms could reach 40-50 kmph and may gust up to 60 kmph in some areas. The weather office has advised residents to remain cautious during thunderstorm activity and avoid taking shelter under trees or near weak structures.

The showers led to a noticeable drop in temperatures, offering relief from the intense summer heat. Earlier, squally winds with speeds touching 91 kmph were recorded at Palam during a thunderstorm episode, highlighting the intensity of recent weather activity in the capital.

Meteorologists attributed the changing weather pattern to favourable atmospheric conditions and advancing monsoon activity over parts of north India. Similar weather conditions, including thunderstorms and gusty winds, are expected to continue intermittently across Delhi-NCR in the coming days.