IRAQ: More than 600 pilgrims in Iraq were briefly hospitalised with respiratory issues after inhaling chlorine gas, which leaked from a water treatment station, authorities reported on Sunday. The incident occurred overnight on the route between the two Shia holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, located in central and southern Iraq, respectively.
This year, millions of Shia Muslim pilgrims are expected to travel to Karbala to observe Arbaeen, a 40-day mourning period commemorating the death of Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Mohammed, and his brother Abbas.
The Iraqi Ministry of Health confirmed that 621 cases of asphyxia were recorded due to the chlorine gas leak. Fortunately, all affected individuals received the necessary medical attention and were later discharged in good health.
Security forces tasked with protecting the pilgrims explained that the chlorine leak occurred from a water station on the Karbala-Najaf road. The incident highlights the ongoing challenges Iraq faces with its infrastructure, much of which is in disrepair due to decades of conflict and corruption. Safety standards in many areas remain lax.
In a related note, the country experienced another tragedy in July when a massive fire at a shopping mall in Kut resulted in the deaths of over 60 people, many of whom suffocated in the toilets.
