ISLAMABAD: Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday said that the Pakistan Embassy in Tehran was in constant touch with the Iranian authorities in Yazd city, following a tragic bus accident in which 28 Pakistani pilgrims lost their lives.

The deputy prime minister expressed his heartfelt condolences to the families of Pakistani pilgrims who lost their lives.

“We are also gravely concerned about the safety and welfare of injured pilgrims,” he remarked.

Deputy Prime Minister Dar said that he had instructed Pakistan’s Ambassador in Tehran to ascertain the exact situation and provide swift medical relief and recovery services as well as arrange repatriation of dead bodies to Pakistan.

“Our embassy is in constant touch with authorities in Yazd city. We thank the Iranian Government for their assistance and help,” he added.

However, at least 28 Pakistani pilgrims were killed and several others sustained injuries after a bus carrying pilgrims met with an accident in Yazd, Iran.

According to Iranian media reports, the ill-fated bus overturned and caught fire near Taftan-Dehshir check point.

A total of 53 passengers were on the bus, most of whom were from Larkana, Ghotki and other cities in Sindh.

“A bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims overturned and caught fire in front of Dehshir-Taft checkpoint in the central province of Yazd on Tuesday night,” Iran’s state TV reported.

“Unfortunately, 11 women and 17 men lost their lives in this accident. Seven of the injured people are in critical condition and six injured people have now left the hospital,” the crisis management director general of Yazd province told Iran’s state TV.

Pakistan’s consular services in Iran have been invited to Yazd province to follow up on the accident, the official added.