- Bus crash kills 28 Pakistani pilgrims
- Faulty brakes, driver error blamed
- Repatriation efforts underway by Pakistan
A bus transporting Pakistani pilgrims toppled in Iran, killing at least 28 people, according to Iranian official television.
According to Reuters, the collision occurred on Tuesday night in Yazd, central Iran, and was caused by a malfunctioning braking system.
According to Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, an additional 23 passengers were hurt, 14 of them critically.
The pilgrims were travelling from the Sindh region in Pakistan to Iraq’s holy city of Karbala to commemorate one of the most important days in the Shia calendar.
According to local media, some 50 people were on the bus when it crashed, including pilgrims from Larkana, Ghotki, and other Sindh cities.
According to crisis management director Ali Malekzadeh, eleven ladies and seventeen men were killed in the crash.
According to local media sources, the bus caught fire in front of Iran’s Dehshir-Taft checkpoint, which is around 681 kilometres (423 miles) south of Tehran.
Mr. Malekzadeh stated that the bus drifted off the road “due to a lack of control by the vehicle’s driver, unfamiliarity with the road, high speed, and technical problems.”
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari said he was directing the foreign ministry to repatriate the corpses of those killed in the incident and assist the injured.
Meanwhile, Interior Minister Moshin Naqvi expressed his deep sadness over the loss of precious human lives in the bus accident in Iran.
Pakistan’s consulate in Iran has been asked to assist with recovery efforts. Mr. Mudassir Tipu stated that he was in contact with both the Iranian government and local authorities in Yazd.
Iran is infamous for its dismal road safety record, which ranks among the worst in the world.
The United Nations Road Safety Fund is currently working on a project to determine how Iran might improve its record.
The pilgrimage, known as Arbaeen (Arabic for 40), marks the end of a 40-day mourning period for Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson.
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More than 1,000 years ago, Iman Hussein perished in the Battle of Karbala, and many believers still feel profound pain and anguish about it.
Pilgrims from all over the world visit his tomb, which is hidden beneath a golden dome.
During this time, the old city of Karbala comes to life, decked with fairy light garlands, flowers, and bunting.
Iraqis from Karbala take delight in entertaining Arbaeen pilgrims, reflecting a culture of generosity.
Last year’s pilgrimage attracted around 25 million people, making Arbaeen the world’s largest yearly pilgrimage.
In comparison, approximately 2.5 million pilgrims travelled to Mecca for the Hajj that same year.
