ISLAMABAD

At least 28 Pakistani pilgrims died and 23 others were injured in a bus crash in the Iranian city of Yazd, Pakistan’s ambassador to Tehran said on Wednesday.

"Embassy officials have already left for Yazd, almost 700 km (435 miles) away from embassy, this morning. An officer in Zahedan is overseeing emergency arrangements. I'm in touch with Iran government and office of Mayor of Yazd for crucial arrangements," Ambassador Muhammad Mudassir Tipu said on X.

The accident occurred due to the failure of the brakes, according to state-run Radio Pakistan.

Earlier, Radio Pakistan reported that at least 35 people were killed and 15 others were injured in the accident.

Meanwhile, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed grief over the accident and extended condolences to bereaved families.