A tragic bus crash in central Iran has claimed the lives of at least 28 Shiite pilgrims from Pakistan. The accident occurred late Tuesday night in Yazd province, about 500 kilometers southeast of Tehran. Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, a local emergency official, reported that 51 people were on board the bus when it crashed near the city of Taft. Of those, 23 sustained injuries, with 14 in serious condition.
The Iranian state news agency IRNA attributed the crash to a failure of the bus brakes and driver inattention. Initial reports in Pakistan indicated that the number of fatalities might be as high as 35. The pilgrims were en route to Iraq to observe Arbaeen, a significant religious event commemorating the martyrdom of Hussein ibn Ali, the grandson of Prophet Muhammad. This annual pilgrimage, held in Karbala, Iraq, is one of the world’s largest public gatherings, attracting millions of attendees.
The bus crash underscores Iran’s troubling road safety record. The country suffers from one of the highest traffic fatality rates globally, with approximately 17,000 deaths reported annually. Factors contributing to this grim statistic include poor adherence to traffic laws, substandard vehicle maintenance, and inadequate emergency services in rural areas.
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In a separate incident early Wednesday morning, another bus crash in Iran’s southeastern Sistan and Baluchestan province resulted in six deaths and 18 injuries. The Pakistani government has not yet issued an official response to the crash, but the local Shiite community is mourning the loss of its members. As authorities continue to investigate both incidents, there is a heightened focus on improving road safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
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