The student camp to the war zones of the eight-year Iran-Iraq war, known as 'Raheyan Noor', has caused another incident, resulting in the deaths of five girls, two teachers, and one assistant driver during a bus accident. The Ministry of Education reported that a bus carrying female students from the city of Nazarabad in Alborz province crashed on the Sussangerd road at 5 PM on Tuesday, December 21. According to the Mehr News Agency, Najat Bahrami, Deputy of Public Relations at the Ministry of Education, announced that at least eight people have died in this accident. Meanwhile, the 'Young Journalists Club' website, affiliated with state media, reported that two female teachers, the assistant driver, and five female students were killed in this incident. Some news agencies have reported that the condition of several other passengers on the bus is 'critical'. Reports suggest that the death toll may rise, with 40 others injured in the incident. According to ILNA news agency, Abdolreza Saeidi-Nia, the governor of Dasht-e Azadegan, stated that the accident occurred at 5 PM on Tuesday on the Sussangerd bypass due to the bus 'veering left' and colliding with a pickup truck. Buses from the 'Raheyan Noor' student camp, which is overseen by the military organization Basij affiliated with the Revolutionary Guards, have repeatedly been involved in accidents. In 2012, an accident involving a bus heading to war zones resulted in the deaths of 26 female students from Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province. This incident drew criticism towards the Basij Student Organization and the Ministry of Education, as it was alleged that students were forced to visit operational areas for a defensive preparation course, a claim denied by Ministry officials. In 2014, the overturning of a 'Raheyan Noor' bus traveling from Kerman province to Khuzestan resulted in the deaths of nine people and injuries to over 30 others. In September, an accident involving a bus carrying students from Hormozgan heading to Shiraz received widespread attention, resulting in the deaths of seven students, one instructor, and the bus driver, with two students losing limbs. Iran is one of the most accident-prone countries in the world in terms of driving. According to a report published by the Central Insurance Research Institute of Iran, among 190 countries, Iran has the second-highest road mortality rate after Sierra Leone. Meanwhile, Taghi Mehri, head of the traffic police of Iran's Law Enforcement Force, announced on Thursday, October 5, that from 1998 until the end of last year, 459,000 people have died in traffic accidents and over 4.5 million have been injured.
Student Camp 'Raheyan Noor' Causes Incident Again, Resulting in At Least Eight Deaths
A tragic bus accident involving students on a trip to war zones resulted in at least eight fatalities, including five girls and two teachers. This incident highlights ongoing safety concerns regarding the 'Raheyan Noor' student camps, which have a history of accidents. The repeated occurrence of such tragedies raises questions about the safety protocols and the necessity of these trips.
👥 Key Players
📰 What Happened
A bus carrying students from a military-themed educational trip crashed, resulting in at least eight deaths, including five girls and two teachers. The incident raises serious concerns about the safety of such trips organized by the Basij.
- The bus accident occurred on December 21, 2023.
- This is not the first incident involving 'Raheyan Noor', with previous accidents resulting in multiple fatalities.
💡 Why It Matters
📚 Background
Iran has a high rate of traffic accidents, and the 'Raheyan Noor' camps have been controversial due to their military focus and history of deadly incidents.
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