The pilgrims were route to Iraq to participate in the Arbaeen commemoration, which observes the 40th day of mourning for Imam Husain.
At Least Three Pakistani Pilgrims Killed, 48 Injured in Bus Crash in Southern Iran
A tragic bus accident in southern Iran has resulted in the deaths of at least three Pakistani pilgrims and left 48 others injured. The accident occurred when the bus, transporting pilgrims en route to Iraq for the Arbaeen commemoration, collided with a truck late Sunday night.
The bus was traveling through Iran on its way to Iraq to attend the Arbaeen observances, which mark the 40th day of mourning for Imam Husain, the grandson of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The accident took place on the main road between Neyriz city in Fars province and Sirjan in Kerman province. Iran’s state media reported that the crash resulted in 48 injuries and three fatalities, although the total number of passengers on the bus was not specified.
According to IRNA, Iran’s official news agency, the collision was attributed to “a technical failure” in the bus’s brakes combined with the driver’s “inability to control the vehicle.” Colonel Abdol Hashem Dehghani of the Fars traffic police confirmed that the accident was caused by these mechanical issues.
Contrarily, Mehr News Urdu cited Neyriz Governor Yaqub Khosrawani, who reported that four Pakistani pilgrims had died and 30 others were injured in the crash. This report differs slightly from the initial numbers provided by IRNA.
This incident marks the second serious accident involving Pakistani pilgrims in less than a week. Earlier, a crash in Yazd city, Iran, resulted in the deaths of 28 individuals traveling to Iraq for the Arbaeen pilgrimage. The bodies of these 28 victims were repatriated to Pakistan via a special flight on Friday night.
Iran has long struggled with road safety issues, with over 20,000 fatalities reported in road accidents in the year leading up to March 2024, according to the Iranian judiciary’s Legal Medicine Organisation. The country’s roads are notoriously hazardous, contributing to the high number of accidents.
Arbaeen, one of the most significant events in the Shia Islamic calendar, attracts millions of pilgrims each year. Last year, approximately 22 million people participated in the Arbaeen commemorations. By August 19 of this year, around 25,000 Pakistani pilgrims had entered Iran, heading toward the Iraqi city of Karbala, where Imam Husain and his brother Abbas are buried.
In response to the tragedy, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences on X (formerly Twitter). He stated, “I am deeply saddened by the news of the Pakistani pilgrims’ deaths in the bus accident in Iran.” He further directed the Pakistani embassy to extend full support to the families of the deceased and ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical care.