A tragic bus crash in central Iran has claimed the lives of at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims. The accident occurred on Tuesday night in Yazd province.
Iranian state media reports that the crash happened due to a defective braking system.
The bus overturned and caught fire near the Dehshir-Taft checkpoint, about 681 kilometers (423 miles) south of Tehran.
According to preliminary police investigations, the crash was caused by a combination of high speed, technical problems, and a lack of control by the driver.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, told the BBC, “Another 23 passengers were injured, 14 of them critically.” The pilgrims were traveling from Sindh province in Pakistan to Karbala, Iraq, to commemorate Arbaeen, a significant Shia religious event.
Local media report that the bus was carrying about 50 people, including pilgrims from Larkana, Ghotki, and other cities in Sindh. The victims include 11 women and 17 men, according to Ali Malekzadeh, the crisis management director.
President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan said he is working with the foreign ministry to repatriate the bodies and assist the injured. Interior Minister Moshin Naqvi expressed his sorrow, stating, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of precious human lives in the bus accident in Iran.”
The Pakistan consulate in Iran is helping with recovery efforts, and Mr. Tipu is in contact with Iranian officials and local authorities in Yazd.
Iran has a poor traffic safety record, and the UN’s road safety fund is working on projects to improve it. The pilgrimage, known as Arbaeen, marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed. It is a time of deep sadness and pilgrimage for many Shia Muslims.
Last year, around 25 million people participated in Arbaeen, making it the largest annual pilgrimage in the world, compared to 2.5 million pilgrims for the Hajj to Mecca.
