Bodies of 28 Pakistani pilgrims killed in Iran bus crash repatriated

KARACHI: Pakistan Air Force’s special flight repatriated the bodies of 28 Pakistani pilgrims who had died in a bus accident in Iran’s city of Yazd on their way to Iraq this week.

A C-130 aircraft of the Pakistan Air Force (PAF) brought the bodies and the injured persons to the Shahbaz Air Base in Jacobabad late Friday night.

Upon reaching the Shahbaz airbase, the funeral of the deceased was offered, which was attended by Sindh Minister for Energy, Planning and Development Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, personnel of the Pakistan Air Force, and grieving families.

According to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs statement, “The mortal remains of 28 Pakistani zaireen who perished in a bus accident in Yazd, Iran, have arrived in Pakistan. On arrival in Jacobabad, the special plane was received by Provincial Minister, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Director General Liaison Office of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Karachi, Irfan Soomro.”

Moreover, 16 injured persons were also repatriated to Pakistan. “Twenty-eight Pakistanis lost their lives in the tragic bus accident on Tuesday, while 23 were injured, of which 14 are stated to be critical,” the state-run APP reported.

Later, the bodies were handed over to their heirs, while the injured were taken to Chandka Hospital in Larkana for further treatment.

Special arrangements were made for the transportation of the affected persons, including ambulances for the injured and air ambulances for the seriously injured.

Before the departure of the special plane for Pakistan, funeral prayers for the deceased were also offered at the Yazd Airport, which was attended by the representative of Iran’s Supreme Leader, the Governor of Yazd Mehran Fatemi, Pakistan’s ambassador to Iran Mudassir Tipu, and Iranian officials.

Takin on X, Pakistan’s envoy to Iran wrote, “Immensely grateful to Iran for honoring departed souls of nationals of Pakistan who were martyred in accident, by holding ceremony at Yazd airport attended by Honorable Imam Juma of Yazd, Governor, Dy Governor & senior officials. Irani military played anthem and national anthem of Pakistan was also played.”

Compensation announced

Among the 25 wounded, eight belonged to Larkana, five Kamber-Shahdadkot, four Khairpur, three Dadu, and one each from Naushahro Feroze, Shikarpur, Karachi, Sehwan and Jhal Magsi (Balochistan), he added.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to Iran, Mudassir Tipu, had also announced on Friday all arrangements for the repatriation of the bodies, along with the injured people, had been completed.

Following the incident, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had issued special instructions for cooperation for the families of the victims. He also directed the Pakistan mission in Tehran to provide all possible measures and support to the affected persons.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar oversaw the efforts carried out by the Pakistani Consulate in Iran, that ensured provision of medical aid to the injured besides contacting the local authorities and sending bodies to Pakistan.