A tragic bus accident in Iran claimed the lives of at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims late Tuesday night, according to reports from Iranian state media. The bus was en route to the Iraqi city of Karbala for the Shiite Muslim holiday of Arbaeen when it overturned in Yazd province, central Iran, reportedly due to brake failure.
The pilgrims were traveling to Karbala to observe Arbaeen, a significant two-day event that begins on Sunday evening and draws millions of participants annually, making it one of the largest religious gatherings in the world.
In addition to the fatalities, at least 23 other passengers were injured in the crash, with 14 of them critically wounded. Iranian emergency services reported that six of the injured have been discharged from the hospital, while seven others remain in serious condition. The Iranian government is working to repatriate the bodies of the deceased and ensure the injured receive medical care, including arrangements to transport them back to Pakistan.
Most of the victims were from Sindh Province in southern Pakistan, according to local officials and media reports. Footage broadcast on Iranian state television showed the overturned bus with its wheels in the air and its luggage compartments open, as rescue teams searched the wreckage.
Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed his condolences, saying, “We are deeply saddened by the loss of precious human lives in the bus accident in Iran.” Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran, confirmed that embassy officials had traveled to Yazd to assist with emergency arrangements and coordinate with Iranian authorities.
As investigations into the cause of the crash continue, both Iranian and Pakistani authorities are working together to support the victims’ families and facilitate the safe return of the injured and deceased.
