Iran offers condolences over deaths of Pakistani pilgrims in bus crash in Yazd

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref  has extended his sincere condolences over the deaths of at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims heading to the Iraqi holy city of Karbala when their bus overturned in Iran’s central province of Yazd.

In a telephone conversation with Yazd Provincial Governor Mehran Fatemi, Aref followed up on the medical treatment of those injured, inquired about the causes of the deadly accident, and emphasized on provision of all necessary services to those affected in the tragic incident.

He also offered his commiserations to the families of the victims and prayed for the quick recovery for those injured in the crash, which happened outside of the city of Taft, located some 500 kilometers (310 miles) southeast of the Iranian capital, Tehran, on Tuesday night.

Fatemi briefed Aref on the possible cause, timing and location of the bus accident, stressing that medical teams and facilities in Yazd province have been mobilized for the treatment of the injured. Measures have also been taken to temporarily accommodate the families of the victims.

Earlier, Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, the crisis management director general of Yazd province, said at least 23 people suffered injuries in the crash, 14 of them serious.

He added that all the bus passengers hailed from Pakistan.

Malekzadeh noted that there were 51 people on board at the time of the crash. He blamed the accident on the bus brakes failing and lack of attention by the driver.

Meanwhile, Spokesman for the Iranian Foreign Ministry Nasser Kan’ani also offered his heartfelt condolences over the deaths.

“The death and injury of a group of dear Pakistani pilgrims as a result of the overturn of the bus carrying them struck us with deep regret and sorrow,” he wrote in a post published on the social media platform X on Wednesday.

He added, “We express our sincere sympathy to the neighboring and brotherly government of Pakistan and the bereaved families, and we pray to God for the highest honor for the deceased and for the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Kan’ani underlined that relevant Iranian authorities and institutions are seriously offering relief and treatment services to the Pakistani pilgrims.

Some Pakistani media outlets, citing a local religious leader, Qamar Abbas, reported that as many as 35 people had died in the crash. He described those on the bus as coming from the city of Larkana in Pakistan's southern Sindh province.

Pakistan's Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi expressed his condolences over the deaths.

“We are deeply saddened by the loss of precious human lives in the bus accident in Iran,” he said.

Black-clad pilgrims are going to gather at Imam Hussein’s holy shrine in Karbala to mark Arba'een, an annual event which marks the 40th day after the martyrdom anniversary of the Prophet Mohammad's grandson, who was killed along with his companions during the battle of Karbala in 680 AD.

Men, women, teens and elders come together in their millions in the Iraqi city to pay tribute and renew their allegiance to Imam Hussein (AS), who is the all-time icon of fighting injustice, oppression and despotism.

The annual event, which is one of the largest religious congregations in the world, brings together a deluge of Imam Hussein’s lovers and devotees from various nationalities who undertake an 80-km walk between the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.

Tents and special stands, called Moukeb in Arabic, are set up on the path leading to the shrine to provide pilgrims with food and other services.

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