Baghdad, Iraq – A tragic incident occurred in Basra province early Thursday morning. Ten Iranian pilgrims were killed and twelve others sustained varying injuries in a hit-and-run accident in the Al-Haritha district. The pilgrims were walking to Karbala to commemorate Arba’een, the 40th day after the martyrdom of Imam Hussein.
Details of the Tragic Incident
The accident occurred around 3:00 AM on Thursday morning on the main road in the Al-Haritha district, northeast of Basra. According to a security source, the driver of a Tahoe SUV lost complete control of his vehicle. The vehicle veered off course and struck a group of pedestrians. The source indicated that initial investigations revealed the driver was under the influence of alcohol, which led to his loss of control and the tragic accident that instantly killed 10 pilgrims.
The authorities’ response and official mourning
Following the accident, security forces and ambulance crews rushed to the scene. The Basra Traffic Directorate temporarily closed the main road in the Al-Haritha district to facilitate the transfer of victims and the injured. Rescue operations were also facilitated, and traffic flow was reorganized.
In the wake of this tragedy, the local government in Basra province declared three days of official mourning across the province on Thursday, in solidarity with the victims. Meanwhile, the 12 injured, whose conditions ranged from moderate to critical, were transferred to nearby hospitals for urgent medical treatment. Authorities are continuing their investigation into the accident to take deterrent legal action against the driver responsible. This occurred amidst widespread public condemnation of the incident, which cast a pall of sadness over the Arba’een pilgrimage in the province.
