A bus accident occurred in Pakistan when a passenger bus lost control and plunged over 20 meters down a ravine in the western mountain range of the country, resulting in at least 40 immediate deaths and numerous injuries.
Hazrat Wali Gagar, Deputy Commissioner of the Chiran District, revealed that a large passenger bus lost control and fell into a deep ravine in Dana Sar, a remote and steep mountainous area on the border between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces in western Pakistan, causing at least 40 deaths.
Reports indicate the bus was traveling from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, heading toward Peshawar. The vehicle was heavily crowded with passengers before it lost control and fell off the road into a ravine approximately 21-24 meters deep.
Sanaullah Shirani, head of the Sob Emergency Center, confirmed the death toll at 40. At least 8 to 11 injured victims have been rescued and sent to nearby hospitals, with three in critical condition. Police disclosed that among the recovered bodies, there are four women and seven men, while the rest are still being transported.
Officials acknowledged the initial rescue operation was very challenging due to the accident site’s steep, rocky, and inaccessible terrain. However, rescue teams and ambulances from both provinces coordinated urgently to search for possible survivors. Subsequently, hospitals in the area declared emergency situations to mobilize doctors to assist the injured immediately.
Shahid Rind, advisor and spokesperson for the Balochistan Chief Minister, shared preliminary investigation findings that the bus was overloaded beyond its normal capacity because it had taken on stranded passengers from another bus that broke down en route, all traveling together when the accident happened. Police also denied social media rumors that the bus was illegally transporting fuel from Iran, confirming these reports to be false.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari issued a statement expressing deep condolences to the families affected by the tragedy, noting that the entire nation mourns with the victims' families. He ordered relevant agencies to provide the best medical care for the injured. Similarly, Abdul Aleem Khan, Minister of Communications, and Sarfaraz Bugti, Chief Minister of Balochistan, expressed sympathy and instructed full support and relief for the victims’ families.
Road accidents frequently occur in Pakistan, mainly due to poor road infrastructure, substandard vehicle safety, lax traffic law enforcement, and reckless or speeding drivers. Authorities have assured the public that the results of the investigation into this tragic incident will be made public immediately after completion.
/SAMAA TV/ AFP