At least 28 Pakistani pilgrims have lost their lives and 23 others have been injured following a bus accident in central Iran, according to Iranian state media. The accident occurred late Tuesday in Yazd province, as the bus was en route to the holy city of Karbala, Iraq, for the Arbaeen pilgrimage. There were a total of 53 passengers on board when the bus overturned. According to a preliminary investigation conducted by the traffic police in Yazd, the accident was caused by a technical failure in the vehicle’s braking system.

“Unfortunately, 11 women and 17 men have died in this tragic incident. Seven of the injured are in critical condition, and six have been discharged from the hospital,” said Ali Malekzadeh, the director of crisis management in Yazd, in an interview with state television.

The Arbaeen celebration marks the 40th day of mourning for Imam Hussein, who is the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad and the son of Imam Ali. Imam Hussein was killed in 680 AD on the plain of Karbala. Many pilgrims choose to walk the 80 kilometers from the nearby city of Najaf, where Imam Ali is buried, to Karbala. Last year, approximately 22 million pilgrims participated in the celebration in Karbala.

Iran has one of the worst road safety records in the world, with around 17,000 fatalities annually. The high death toll is often attributed to a lack of adherence to traffic laws, unsafe vehicles, and inadequate emergency services in rural areas.