Tehran: 12 people died and 16 others were injured in a tragic road accident in Iran. The accident occurred in the Ilam province of western Iran, near the border with Iraq, when a bus carrying employees working in an oil and gas project suddenly lost control and overturned. All the people who died in the accident are said to be employees associated with this project. The injured have been admitted to different hospitals, the condition of some of which is critical. In such a situation, there is a possibility that the death toll will increase.
Where and how did such a big accident happen?
According to Iranian media reports, the accident occurred at around 7:25 pm on Saturday in the Dehloran area of Ilam province. The bus carrying the employees was going from Dasht Abbas towards Murmuri. Meanwhile, on the Dasht Abbas-Murmuri road, the driver lost control of the bus and the vehicle overturned on the road. A total of 28 people were on board the bus, including 27 employees and a driver. As soon as information about the accident was received, local administration, emergency medical services and rescue teams were sent to the spot. The injured were evacuated to nearby medical centres.
In which project did the employees working on the bus work?
All the employees who were victims of the accident were associated with the NGL 3100 oil and gas project located in Dehloran. This project is included in the major energy projects of Southern Ilam region. A large number of local and technical employees work here. After the work was over on Saturday, the employees were going towards their destination by bus, but this accident on the way left many families devastated. According to local officials, a large number of the dead are residents of Abdanan area.
Where were the injured admitted to hospitals?
According to Iran’s government news agency Islamic Republic News Agency (IRNA), 16 people injured in the accident were taken to different hospitals for treatment. According to Behzad Nurmohammadi, governor of Abdanan, 10 injured were admitted to the major hospital in Dejful, five to medical centers in Abdanan and one to the hospital in Ilam. Officials said some of the injured suffered serious injuries. Teams of doctors are continuously treating him. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian has also instructed the concerned authorities to provide better treatment to the injured and provide them immediate medical assistance.
How did the death toll become nine earlier?
In the initial hours of the accident, provincial officials had reported nine deaths. However, three more injured died during treatment in hospitals. After this, the death toll increased to 12 on Sunday. According to Iranian media reports, the administration has expressed condolences to the families of the deceased. One day of public mourning has been declared in Ilam province and two days in Abdanad region. There is an atmosphere of mourning in the entire area after the accident.
Was someone’s negligence responsible for the bus accident?
Abdanan prosecutor Amrullah Misai said an investigation had been launched to determine the real causes of the accident. The cause of the bus overturning, the circumstantial factors that contributed to the accident and possible negligence are being investigated. He clarified that if any violation of rules or negligence on the part of any person or concerned organization comes to light, then strict legal action will be taken against those responsible. At present, there has been no official confirmation of any reason behind the accident like technical fault, driver’s fault or road conditions.
How serious is the risk of road accidents in Iran?
Road accidents have long been a matter of great concern in Iran. A large number of people lose their lives every year due to poor road safety system and violation of traffic rules in the country. According to data from Iran’s official Legal Medicine Organization, about 20 thousand people died in road accidents in the 12 months to March 2026. The latest accident in Dehaloran once again raises questions on the safe movement of employees and the provision of public transport.
