At least 35 Pakistani pilgrims lost their lives, and 15 others were seriously injured in a devastating bus accident in Yazd, Iran. The tragic incident occurred when a bus carrying over 50 pilgrims overturned and caught fire near the Taftan-Dehshir checkpoint, approximately 700 kilometers from the Pakistani embassy.
Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, confirmed the deaths of 28 pilgrims and reported that 23 others were wounded. According to Iranian media, the accident was caused by overspeeding and brake failure, leading the bus to crash into a school wall.
The bus, part of a convoy heading to participate in the Arbaeen pilgrimage, was one of two buses traveling from Larkana, Pakistan. The convoy leader, Syed Athar Shamsi, revealed that the ill-fated bus was ahead of the other, which was delayed due to documentation issues.
The Iranian authorities, including the Crisis Management Director General of Yazd Province, confirmed that 11 women and 17 men were among the deceased. Hospitals across the city were put on high alert, with several of the injured in critical condition.
Iranian traffic police have indicated that a technical defect in the bus’s braking system is the likely cause of the accident. The investigation is ongoing, with Pakistani consular services invited to Yazd to assist in the aftermath.
Condolences have poured in from across Pakistan, with President Asif Ali Zardari, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, and PTI leader Omar Ayub expressing their grief and offering prayers for the victims. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has been directed to provide assistance to the injured and facilitate the repatriation of the bodies.
