At least 28 Pakistanis en route to Arbaeen pilgrimage in Iraq were killed in a bus crash in central Iran, as per Iranian state media.

"A bus carrying 51 Pakistani pilgrims overturned and caught fire in front of Dehshir-Taft checkpoint in the central province of Yazd on Tuesday night," the Iranian state TV reported. 

"28 people have been killed and 23 injured so far with the possibility of the death toll increasing," it added. 

Commenting on the incident, Ali Malek-zadeh, the crisis management chief for Yazd province, informed the broadcaster that some of the injured were in critical condition.

"Of the 23 injured, six have already been discharged from hospital, while the condition of seven others is critical," Malek-zadeh stressed.

"The dead consisted of 11 women and 17 men," he added.

Iran extends condolences for Pakistani pilgrims killed in Yazd bus crash

Iranian Vice President Mohammad Reza Aref has expressed his heartfelt condolences following the deaths of the Pakistani pilgrims who were en route to the Iraqi holy city of Karbala when their bus overturned in Yazd province.

In a phone call with Yazd Provincial Governor Mehran Fatemi, Aref inquired about the ongoing medical care for the injured, sought details on the accident's causes, and stressed the importance of providing all necessary support to those affected by the tragedy. He also extended his sympathies to the victims' families and wished a swift recovery for the injured.

Fatemi updated Aref on the accident's potential causes, timing, and location, noting that medical teams and facilities in Yazd province have been fully mobilized to treat the injured. Additionally, efforts have been made to temporarily house the families of the victims.

Meanwhile, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Nasser Kanaani also expressed his sincere condolences for 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 said in a post published on X on Wednesday.

He stressed, “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 the speedy recovery of the injured.”

Dive deeper

The Arbaeen pilgrimage, marking 40 days since Ashura, the 10th of the month of Muharram, commemorates the sacrifice of Imam Hussein (PBUH) and his companions in Karbala over 1,400 years ago.

This year's 80-kilometer journey from Najaf to Karbala, where millions of pilgrims march on foot, has been marked by a flood of Palestinian symbols, which stand as a bold statement against the war crimes and crimes against humanity that have riddled the besieged Gaza Strip over the past 10 months.

The lessons from that battle, where Imam Hussein chose death in dignity over surrender to tyranny, resonate strongly with the current situation in Gaza. Just as Imam Hussein was besieged and denied water for his family and companions, Palestinians in Gaza are today under a similar siege with their children also suffering from thirst. 

The Arbaeen pilgrimage has become a transnational and global event, with participants from different nationalities uniting under the banner of justice and freedom. The horrific scenes from Gaza have inspired many to raise the Palestinian flag during this largest annual gathering on the planet, attended by over 20 million people, turning the pilgrimage into a movement for global solidarity.

Read more: Arbaeen commemoration turns to the platform of pro-Palestine solidarity