TEHRAN: At least 28 people were killed and 23 others sustained injuries after a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims met with an accident in Yazd, Iran, said Pakistan's Ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu on Wednesday.
The ambassador's statement comes after a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims overturned and caught fire near Taftan-Dehshir checkpoint, reported Iranian media.
"Embassy officials have already left for Yazd this morning. An officer in Zahedan is overseeing emergency arrangements," the ambassador further said.
Speaking with Geo News, the envoy said overspeeding and brake failure caused the ill-fated bus to crash into a school wall.
Maulana Qamar Abbas Naqvi — a member of a peace committee based in Larkana — said at least 30 people died on the spot, while five succumbed to their injuries at the hospital.
He maintained that the 15 injured are in critical condition.
On the other hand, Iran's Mehr News Agency said that the number of killed people in the accident was 28 with emergency imposed in hospitals across the city to treat the injured.
The bus, which had 53 passengers on board, met with the accident last night. The police and rescue officials rushed to the scene and shifted the bodies and the injured to the hospital.
As per details received from sources earlier today, the bus was carrying more than 50 passengers, including 14 women.
They added that 10 people hailed from Khairpur, whereas six were from Kashmore.
Syed Athar Shamsi, the leaders of the convoy which left from Larkana to participate in Arbaeen, said that the group of pilgrims were commuting in two buses. The bus moving ahead met with the accident, while the other one was left behind due to documentation related issues.
Crisis management director general of Yazd province, while talking to Iranian state TV, confirmed that 11 women and 17 men lost their lives in the accident, reported Reuters.
"Seven of the injured people are in critical condition and six injured people have now left the hospital," he said adding that Pakistan's consular services in Iran have been invited to Yazd province to follow up on the accident.
Iranian traffic police have said that preliminary investigations reveal that the accident was caused by a technical defect in the bus braking system.
Speaking to Geo.tv Maulana Shah Murad Sharifi, a Qom seminary student hailing from Larkana, said that the pilgrims' convoy comprised two buses carrying around 52 passengers each.
Elaborating on the current situation, he said that apart from five to six people who suffered minor injuries, most of the passengers of the ill-fated bus were in critical condition and were being treated in a local government hospital.
When asked about what caused the fatal accident, Sharifi said he had heard people saying that the vehicle's brakes had failed before the accident.
Reacting to the incident, President Asif Ali Zardari has expressed grief and regret over the loss of precious life.
The president has directed the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to provide assistance to the wounded and help bring the bodies back to Pakistan.
Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PT) leader and National Assembly Opposition Leade Omar Ayub have also separately expressed condolences and prayed for the speedy recovery of the wounded pilgrims.
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