Over 600 Pilgrims Treated After Chlorine Gas Leak in Iraq
More than 600 Shia pilgrims in Iraq were briefly hospitalized after inhaling chlorine gas from a leak at a water treatment station, authorities said.
The incident happened overnight along the busy route between the holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, where millions of pilgrims travel each year for Arbaeen — a major Shia religious observance marking 40 days of mourning for Imam Hussein, the grandson of the Prophet Muhammad.
According to Iraq’s Ministry of Health, 621 people suffered breathing difficulties but received immediate medical care. “All have been treated and discharged in good health,” the ministry confirmed.
Security officials said the leak came from a water station on the Karbala–Najaf road.
Iraq’s aging infrastructure, worn down by decades of war, conflict, and corruption, often struggles to meet safety standards. In recent months, the country has faced several tragedies, including a shopping mall fire in Kut in July that claimed over 60 lives.
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