At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured on Friday after a passenger bus fell into a ravine near the Balochistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border, according to officials cited by local and international news agencies.
The bus was travelling from Quetta toward Peshawar when it crashed in the mountainous Dhanasar/Dana Sar area near Zhob and Sherani district. Officials said the vehicle was carrying 48 passengers at the time of the accident.
What Happened
Initial reports suggest the bus went off the highway and plunged into a rocky ravine in a remote stretch of mountainous terrain. Authorities said the vehicle had become overcrowded after taking on additional passengers from another bus that had reportedly broken down during the journey.
Emergency officials said the bus fell roughly 70 to 80 feet, making rescue work difficult in the early hours after the crash. Teams from Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, along with local volunteers and emergency services, joined the operation.
Rescue Teams Faced Difficult Terrain
The injured passengers were shifted to hospital for treatment, while bodies were taken first to a nearby rural health centre and later to District Headquarters Hospital in Zhob, according to reports. Rescue workers also worked to identify the victims and contact families.
The rugged location slowed the recovery effort, with responders having to reach the wreckage down a steep slope before moving victims back toward the road.
Inquiry Ordered After Deadly Crash
Balochistan officials said an investigation has been ordered to determine the cause of the accident. The provincial government also said it would review safety measures for public transport so similar incidents can be prevented.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of life and offered condolences to the families of the victims. Officials also directed authorities to provide medical support to the injured.
Road Safety Concerns
The crash has again raised concerns about road safety on long-distance routes, especially in mountainous areas where overspeeding, overloading, weak enforcement and difficult road conditions can turn accidents deadly.
Pakistan has seen several serious transport accidents in recent years, with officials often pointing to reckless driving, poor vehicle maintenance and dangerous road conditions as contributing factors.
Sources: Dawn, Associated Press, Al Jazeera.
