Karbala

The pilgrims were on their way to Iraq's holy city of Karbala to commemorate one of the biggest events in the Shia calendar.

He added the government also planned a metro link between Karbala and Najaf, the seat of Iraqi Shi'ite clergy.

Pilgrims come from various parts of Iraq as well as from Iran and the Gulf countries, with many making their way to Karbala on foot.

The bus was crammed with pilgrims en route to the holy Shi’ite Muslim city of Karbala, the sources told Reuters.

Hundreds of thousands of pilgrims gathered in the Iraqi city of Karbala, where Hussein is entombed in a gold-domed shrine.