Chlorine Gas Leak: Over 600 Pilgrims Hospitalised In Iraq

Iraq’s health ministry on Sunday confirmed that at least 600 pilgrims were briefly hospitalized with respiratory problems after inhaling chlorine as the result of a leak at a water treatment station.
According to the ministry, the incident took place overnight on the route between the two Shiite holy cities of Najaf and Karbala, located in the centre and south of Iraq, respectively.
“621 cases of asphyxia have been recorded following a chlorine gas leak in Karbala. All have received the necessary care and left the hospital in good health,” the country’s health ministry stated in a brief statement
This year, several million Shiite Muslim pilgrims are expected to make their way to Karbala, which houses the shrines of the revered Imam Hussein and his brother Abbas.
There, they will mark the Arbaeen — the 40-day period of mourning during which Shiites commemorate the death of Hussein, grandson of the Prophet Mohammed.
Security forces charged with protecting pilgrims, meanwhile, said the incident had been caused by “a chlorine leak from a water station on the Karbala-Najaf road”.