More than 600 Shia pilgrims in Iraq experienced respiratory issues as a result of breathing in chlorine gas from a water treatment plant leak.

Overnight, a leak occurred on the road between two significant Shia Muslim holy cities, Najaf and Karbala.

Each year, millions of pilgrims travel to Karbala to mark Arbaeen, a 40-day period of mourning in remembrance of Prophet Muhammad s grandson, Imam Hussein.

Many people were using this route for this year s pilgrimage when the gas leak happened.

According to Iraq s Ministry of Health, 621 people were impacted, but all of them got treatment and are now in good health after leaving the hospital.

According to security forces, a water station on the Karbala-Najaf road was the source of the chlorine leak.

Due to years of war and conflict, many of Iraq s infrastructure components are outdated and damaged, and safety regulations are frequently disregarded.

Over 60 people were killed in a Kut shopping mall fire earlier this year as a result of inadequate safety precautions.

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This incident provides spotlight on ongoing problems with Iraq s outdated infrastructure and poor safety regulations.

Every year, millions of pilgrims travel significant religious routes, making safety improvements essential to avoiding such accidents.

The quick treatment of the pilgrims prevented a major disaster this time, but the risks remain high until stronger measures and repairs are made.

Authorities need to focus on better maintenance and safety checks, especially on routes used by large crowds during important religious events.