A tragic bus accident in central Iran has claimed the lives of at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims, state media reported on Wednesday. The accident occurred late Tuesday in Yazd province, and authorities say a technical fault that paralyzed the bus's brakes was the cause.

According to the state-run IRNA news agency, 23 additional passengers sustained injuries, with seven in critical condition. Mohammad Ali Malekzadeh, an emergency official, confirmed that six of the injured have already been discharged from the hospital, while the condition of seven others remains serious. "The dead consisted of 11 women and 17 men," Malekzadeh added.

All 51 passengers aboard the bus were Pakistani nationals. The group was traveling from Iran to Iraq to observe Arbaeen, one of the most significant events in the Shiite Muslim calendar. Arbaeen marks the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, who was martyred in the Battle of Karbala in 680 AD. Pilgrims often journey to Karbala, Iraq, where Hussein’s shrine is located.

Pakistan's Interior Minister, Mohsin Naqvi, expressed his deep sorrow over the incident, stating, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of precious human lives in the bus accident in Iran."

Images released by Iranian media show the overturned bus with its roof smashed in and doors flung open. Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Iran, with approximately 17,000 fatalities annually, often attributed to poor traffic laws and insufficient regulations.

Authorities continue to investigate the accident, with a focus on the reported brake failure that led to the tragedy.