A bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims flipped over in Iran, killing at least 28 passengers, Iranian state media said. The crash happened Tuesday night in Yazd province. A faulty brake system caused the accident, initial investigations showed, Reuters reported.
The bus left Pakistan’s Sindh province for the holy city of Karbala in Iraq. The pilgrims planned to participate in Arbaeen, a key event for Shia Muslims. The accident also hurt 23 passengers, with seven in lousy shape, Yazd’s crisis management head, Ali Malekzadeh, told state TV.
The bus had about 53 passengers when it crashed. These included pilgrims from Larkana, Ghotki, and other parts of Sindh. Mr Malekzadeh said 11 women and 17 men died in the accident.
The bus caught fire near the Dehshir-Taft checkpoint about 681 km (423 miles) south of Tehran, Iran’s capital. Malekzadeh pointed out that the driver lost control of the bus because of speeding, not knowing the road well, and mechanical problems. This caused the bus to veer off the road and flip over.
After this terrible event, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari told the foreign ministry to help bring back the bodies of those who died and to support the injured. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi felt very sad about what happened. He said, “We are saddened by the loss of precious human lives in the bus accident in Iran.”
Pakistan told its consulate in Iran to help with the recovery work. The country’s ambassador to Tehran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, said he’s talking to Iranian officials and local leaders in Yazd to plan the response.
Iran has a bad reputation for road safety, ranking among the worst. The UN’s road safety fund is running a project to make traffic safer in the country.
The pilgrims were on their way to take part in Arbaeen, which signals the conclusion of 40 days of grieving for Imam Hussein, Prophet Mohammed’s grandson, who died in the Battle of Karbala more than a thousand years ago. Arbaeen gives many Shia Muslims a chance to reflect and grieve, attracting millions of followers to Karbala annually. In 2023, about 25 million pilgrims participated in Arbaeen, making it the most significant yearly pilgrimage worldwide, even more extensive than the Hajj to Mecca.
During Arbaeen, Karbala gets decked out, and Iraqis take pride in welcoming the pilgrims, showing their long-standing tradition of hospitality. Even with the risks of travelling on dangerous roads, believers keep making this journey to honour Imam Hussein’s memory and to find spiritual comfort.
