Last updated on August 29th, 2024 at 08:56 pm
TEHRAN: A bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims to Iraq for a major Shiite Muslim rite overturned and caught fire in central Iran, killing all 28 people on board, state media reported.
The Pakistani Pilgrims Bus Accident in Iran included 51 passengers who all went on pilgrimage to participate in the Arbaeen commemoration in Iraq. Out of the 23 injured, several are in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll may rise well beyond what has been recorded. Ali Malek-zadeh, the crisis management chief of Yazd province, confirmed the death toll included 11 women and 17 men.
The Iranian accident of the Pakistani Pilgrims Bus Accident underlines the perils of traveling to holy destinations. The Arbaeen pilgrimage, which is one of the largest assemblies in the Shiite Muslim calendar, allows marking of the 40th day of mourning of Imam Hussein, grandson of Prophet Muhammad. Last year alone, it attracted more than 22 million people who participated in the event in Karbala, Iraq.
Authorities have started an investigation into the causes of the Pakistani Pilgrims Bus Accident in Iran. The sad incident has hung a gloomy shadow over the forthcoming commemoration of Arbaeen, as the victims’ families mourn the tragic loss of their loved ones.
This accident of the Pakistani pilgrims in Iran has raised calls for improvement in the safety on pilgrimage routes. With injuries still fluctuating and some in critical conditions, this incident shows clearly the need for road safety and crisis management in times of big religious gatherings.