Bus crash in Iran claims lives of 28 Pakistani pilgrims

PTC News Desk: A tragic bus accident in Iran has claimed the lives of more than 28 passengers, according to Iranian state media. The crash occurred on Tuesday night in the central province of Yazd.

The bus, which was transporting Pakistani pilgrims to Iraq, overturned, leaving 23 others injured. Of the injured, 14 are reported to be in serious condition. The bus was carrying a total of 51 passengers at the time of the accident.

The pilgrims were en route to Iraq to participate in Arbaeen, a significant religious observance marking the 40th day after the death of a 7th-century Shiite saint. This pilgrimage is a major event for Shiite Muslims.

Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local emergency official, confirmed the details of the incident to the state-run IRNA news agency. He expressed condolences and provided updates on the ongoing efforts to assist those affected by the crash.

Local media reported that the bus caught fire in front of the Dehshir-Taft checkpoint in Iran, around 681 kilometers (423 miles) south of the country’s capital, Tehran.

The Arbaeen pilgrimage signifies the conclusion of forty days of grief for Imam Hussein, the Prophet Mohammed’s grandson. Currently, two million Shia Muslims travel for religious purposes.

Iran has a terrible reputation for poor driving safety, with almost 20,000 fatal traffic accidents per year.

This is a developing story, stay tuned…