KARBALA, Iraq – More than 600 Shia Muslim pilgrims were temporarily hospitalized overnight after inhaling chlorine gas from a leak at a water treatment facility along the pilgrimage route between the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala.
The incident occurred as millions of faithful journey to Karbala for Arbaeen, the solemn 40-day mourning period commemorating the death of Imam Hussein, the revered grandson of Prophet Muhammad. The pilgrimage route connects central and southern Iraq’s most sacred Shia sites, where the shrines of Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas draw devotees from around the world.
According to Iraq’s Ministry of Health, 621 cases of asphyxia were recorded following the chlorine gas leak. “All have received the necessary care and left hospital in good health,” ministry officials confirmed in a statement.
Security forces responsible for pilgrim safety identified the source as “a chlorine leak from a water station on the Karbala-Najaf Road.” All affected pilgrims experienced respiratory difficulties but have since recovered and been discharged.
The incident highlights ongoing infrastructure challenges plaguing Iraq, where decades of warfare, internal conflict, and widespread corruption have left critical systems in disrepair. Safety standard enforcement remains inconsistent across the country’s aging facilities.
This latest safety crisis follows a devastating July fire at a shopping center in Kut that claimed over 60 lives, with many victims suffocating in restroom facilities, underscoring the urgent need for infrastructure improvements and safety protocol enforcement.
Despite the disruption, the annual Arbaeen pilgrimage continues, drawing several million participants to one of the world’s largest religious gatherings.
