At least 40 individuals have lost their lives, and eight others have sustained injuries following a tragic incident where an overcrowded bus veered off the road and fell into a gorge in south-west Pakistan.
The fatal crash occurred on the Zhob-Sherani Highway near the Dana Sar area, which lies close to the border between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, during the early hours of Friday, as confirmed by officials.
According to Sanaullah Sherani, the head of Zhob district’s emergency center, the bus, en route from Quetta to Peshawar, met with the accident in the mountainous Dana Sar region, plummeting approximately 70 to 80 feet into the ravine.
Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan government, revealed that the bus was carrying its regular passengers along with individuals from another broken-down bus, leading to an overcrowded situation. Efforts are underway to identify the deceased from the catastrophe.
President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, extending heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and wishing a swift recovery to the injured. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also expressed grief and urged authorities to ensure the injured receive optimal medical attention.
Tragic road accidents like this are unfortunately not uncommon in Pakistan, attributed to substandard road conditions, lax enforcement of traffic regulations, and reckless driving practices, especially in hilly terrains.
Earlier incidents include a minibus colliding with a parked bus in north-west Pakistan, resulting in 17 fatalities and five injuries in May. In January, two separate crashes claimed the lives of 24 individuals and left 45 others injured. One of the accidents occurred in Sargodha, Punjab province, where a truck plunged into a canal in dense fog, causing casualties. The second incident involved a passenger bus overturning on the Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan, resulting in further tragic losses.
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