At least 28 Pakistani pilgrims killed in a bus crash in Iran’s Yazd city
The Pakistani pilgrims were headed through Iran to Iraq to attend the Arbaeen commemoration
At least 28 Pakistani pilgrims were killed in a bus crash in Iran’s Yazd city, Pakistan’s envoy to Tehran confirmed on Wednesday.
The accident that occurred on Tuesday night also left 23 others injured.
The bus overturned at the Dehshir-Taftan checkpoint in Yazd on Tuesday night and then caught fire, according to Iran’s Mehr Agency.
“In pursuit of their religious journey, 28 Pakistani zaireen laid down their lives last night in Yazd city in a bus accident. Another 23 are injured,” Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, said in a statement posted on X.
Iran’s state-owned IRNA news agency quoted Ali Malekzadeh, Yazd province’s crisis management chief, as saying that 14 of the injured were in critical condition.
Six of the wounded had been discharged from the hospital while the rest were receiving treatment at various facilities in Abarkuh, Taft, and Yazd, he said.
“The dead consisted of 11 women and 17 men,” Malekzadeh added.
He added that the Yazd Governorate, in coordination with the Iranian foreign ministry, was arranging for an aircraft to transport the injured and deceased back to Pakistan.
The bus was carrying Pakistani pilgrims who were headed through Iran to Iraq to attend the Arbaeen commemoration, which marks the 40th day of mourning for Imam Husain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).
Iran’s Ambassador to Pakistan Reza Amiri Moghadam also confirmed the deaths of 28 Pakistanis in the accident, saying he was “extremely dejected to hear about the sad news”.
I am extremely dejected to hear about the sad news of a bus crash carrying the Pakistani pilgrims in the Yazd province of Iran leading to the death of 28 Pakistani brother and sisters. May God Almighty bless the soul of the deceased. I extend my heartfelt condolences to the… pic.twitter.com/vUZGW3o2kc
— Reza Amiri Moghadam (@IranAmbPak) August 21, 2024
Pakistan’s Embassy in Iran has shared contact details of relevant officials who could be approached for further information about the accident:
- Ahmad Shami: +92 3134556593 (WhatsApp)
- Aftab Butt: +92 3004166896
- Siddique: +98 9046145412
