Iran braces for up to 3,000 deaths during Khamenei funeral as authorities prepare graves and contingency plans.
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Supreme Leader Iran: Iran is expecting a huge death toll in the weeklong mourning rituals for the late Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, as official papers revealed that between 1,500 and 3,000 people are predicted to die during this period according to a document by German newspaper WELT. The authorities from the Iranian Red Crescent and National Crisis Management Organization stated that stampede and hot weather would result in a unique public safety challenge during the funeral processions. This foresight signifies the seriousness of the issue. Different graves have been prepared in Behesht-e Zahra cemetery in Tehran, the most massive cemetery in Iran. The Tehran Municipality workers declared to WELT that a special agency is formed to manage the death toll and missing people during the mourning ceremony.
Khamenei Funeral: The funeral proceedings began on Saturday in Tehran and are expected to go through several cities, including Qom, before reaching Najaf and Karbala in Iraq. The burial of Khamenei is likely to take place in Mashhad on Thursday. The city of Tehran has arranged for the use of around 11,000 buses for the funeral, as well as continued use of metro and bus rapid transit services. Government sources speculate that around 20 million people may be present for the funeral, which has raised concerns about crowd control in the blazing summer heat. There are makeshift shelters as well as kitchens for the people expected to show up.
The financial investment reflects the event's significance. Municipal districts in Tehran have each been allocated between €500,000 and €650,000, with estimates suggesting Tehran alone will spend approximately €15 million. Additional budgets of €5 million each have been allocated for ceremonies in Qom and Mashhad, with further expenses anticipated for events in Najaf and Karbala. These figures exclude funding for fire departments, transport authorities, and construction units, positioning Khamenei's funeral among the costliest state funerals in modern history.
Business Honor is of the view that Iran's funeral contingency planning represents institutional acknowledgment of unprecedented crowd management risks.
FAQs:
Q: Why is Iran expecting deaths during Khamenei's funeral?
A: Overcrowding combined with extreme summer heat poses serious public safety risks during massive gatherings.
Q: How many people could attend Khamenei's funeral?
A: Official estimates suggest attendance could reach approximately 20 million people across multiple Iranian cities.
Q: What preparations has Iran made for potential casualties?
A: Authorities prepared thousands of graves, formed special death management units, and established contingency protocols.
Q: Where will the funeral ceremonies take place?
A: Ceremonies begin in Tehran, continue through Qom, move to Iraqi cities Najaf and Karbala, ending in Mashhad.
Q: How much is Iran spending on Khamenei's funeral?
A: Estimated total cost exceeds €35 million, making it potentially the costliest state funeral in modern history.
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