Yazd, 21 August 2024 (TDI): A bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims overturned in Iran, resulting in the deaths of at least 35 passengers. The accident occurred in the central Iranian province of Yazd and was attributed to a defective braking system. The tragic accident has set the people in both countries in deep shock and grief.
Details of the Accident
The majority of the pilgrims on the bus were from Sindh province in Pakistan. They were traveling to Iraq’s holy city of Karbala to observe a major event in the Shia calendar. An estimated 50 people were on the bus at the time of the crash, including pilgrims from Larkana, Ghotki, and other cities in Sindh. Another 15 passengers were injured in the accident and they have been transferred to a nearby hospital.
Official Responses and Condolences
In response to the tragedy, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif have expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives. They have extended their condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the souls of the departed. Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan has also expressed its condolences to the families of deceased pilgrims.
As per the guidelines of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar, the Consul of Pakistan in Zahidan has been assigned the responsibility of reaching the accident site to assess the situation on the ground. FM has also thanked the Iranian government for their swift and compassionate assistance.
MOFA Pakistan has also tasked its Crisis Management Unit to support these efforts and facilitate the repatriation of the deceased. Pakistan’s Ambassador in Tehran and Consul in Zahidan are in direct contact with the Iranian authorities in Tehran and Zahidan.
They are working to expedite the recovery and repatriation of the deceased and to facilitate the medical treatment of the injured.
