Tragic Minibus Collision in Iraq Claims Lives of 18 Iranian Pilgrims
A collision between two minibuses in Iraq has resulted in the loss of 18 lives, with the majority of victims being Iranian pilgrims. The incident occurred north of the capital city, Baghdad, between Dujail and Samarra, late on Friday night. According to Khaled Burhan, the director of health services in Salaheddin province, this horrible accident led to numerous casualties and injuries.
Medical officials have reported that both minibuses crashed into each other just before midnight, causing the death of 18 individuals and leaving 15 others wounded. An anonymous medical official from Salaheddin revealed that one of the drivers is believed to have fallen asleep while behind the wheel, garnering witness accounts that support this claim.
Among the deceased, 14 were Iranian nationals, two were Afghans, and the remaining two have yet to be identified. The fatalities also included the two minibus drivers, as confirmed by a representative from the area’s traffic authority. The official further supported reports of a driver dozing off, citing that one of the minibuses veered into the opposite lane.
Initially, INA (Iraqi state news agency) reported 16 fatalities and 13 injuries, highlighting that those killed were Shia Muslim pilgrims from neighboring Iran. It is worth mentioning that a comparable incident occurred almost exactly one year ago, on September 11, resulting in the deaths of 11 Iranian Shia pilgrims and their Iraqi driver when their minibus collided with a truck in Babil province, south of Baghdad.
Every year, millions of Shia pilgrims, many of whom originate from Iran, travel to the holy shrine city of Karbala for Arbaeen, one of the most significant religious gatherings worldwide. Arbaeen represents the conclusion of the 40-day mourning period for the martyrdom of Imam Hussain. This year’s pilgrimage has welcomed over 2.6 million visitors who have entered Iraq through its land borders or by air, according to Iraq’s interior ministry.
Road accidents have unfortunately become a familiar occurrence during Arbaeen, which concludes on September 6-7 this year. Just this week, four separate road accidents claimed the lives of 20 individuals and injured numerous others, predominantly Iranian pilgrims. These accidents took place in the southern provinces of Wassit and Dhi Qar, near the border with Iran.
Iraq’s dilapidated infrastructure, consisting of roads and bridges, has been left in disrepair due to conflict, neglect, and endemic corruption. Officials also point out that factors such as excessive speed, mobile phone use, and impaired driving contribute to these crashes.
Last year alone, road accidents in Iraq resulted in the deaths of over 4,900 people, averaging at 13 fatalities per day according to data from the Ministry of Health. As pilgrims mourn the loss of their loved ones, it is essential to address the issues that contribute to these unfortunate incidents and strive for improved safety measures on the roads.
