A devastating bus crash in Yazd Province, Iran, has left a trail of destruction and grief, as Shia pilgrims from Pakistan were en route to a sacred commemoration in Karbala, Iraq. Image: BBC News
(The Post News)- A heart-wrenching tragedy unfolded on Tuesday night in Iran’s Yazd Province, leaving at least 28 lives lost and several others injured. A bus carrying 51 Shia pilgrims from Pakistan overturned, caught fire, and crashed outside the city, approximately 500 miles southeast of Tehran.
The ill-fated bus was part of a convoy transporting pilgrims from Larkana in Pakistan’s Sindh province to the holy city of Karbala in Iraq. The group was attending a significant commemoration, considered one of the most important events on the Shia calendar.
Local emergency officer Muhammad Ali Malekzadeh reported that 11 women and 17 men succumbed to their injuries, with 14 others in critical condition. The survivors are receiving medical attention, while the authorities are working to identify the deceased.
Footage aired by Iranian state TV showed the bus lying upside down on the roadway, its roof caved in, and doors flung open. Rescuers cautiously navigated through the shattered glass and debris scattered across the road as they worked at the scene.
Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran, Muhammad Mudassir Tipu, promptly contacted the Iranian government and Yazd local authorities after learning of the incident. Pakistan’s President, Ali Zardari, expressed his condolences and assured that assistance was being provided to the injured. He also added that the foreign ministry was coordinating efforts to repatriate the remains of the deceased.
Preliminary assessments suggest a brake malfunction as the likely cause of the accident. Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
As the nation mourns the loss of the pilgrims, Pakistan’s consular services in Iran have been dispatched to Yazd Province to assist with the aftermath of the accident. The international community extends its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims, praying for their strength and resilience during this difficult time.
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