At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured after an overcrowded passenger bus plunged into a rocky ravine in Balochistan province on Friday, police and rescue workers said. The bus was carrying passengers from another vehicle that had broken down, officials reported. Rescue teams responded to the crash and shifted the victims to a nearby hospital.
Details of the Accident
A spokesman for Balochistan Chief Minister, Shahid Rind, said on Friday the accident took place near Dana Sar, a border area between Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. According to initial reports, at least 40 people died and eight persons were injured. Rescue and relief operations were launched as soon as information about the accident was received.
The bus was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar when it crashed in the Dana Sar mountain range on Friday. A government official at Zhob Hospital told reporters that a total of 48 people, including a number of women and children, had been on board.
Cause and Investigation
The cause of the crash is under investigation, but preliminary reports suggest a steering fault may have led the driver to lose control before skidding off the mountain range. The bus fell approximately 70 to 80 feet (21-24 meters) into the ravine, according to Sanaullah Sherani, head of Zhob district’s emergency service, who spoke to AFP news agency.
Response and Rescue Efforts
Dozens of emergency responders and ambulances were deployed to the scene, but rescue and recovery efforts were hampered by the difficult terrain. The injured were taken to the District Headquarters hospital in Zhob, about 68 km (42 miles) from the crash site. Bodies were also taken to the hospital; following identification, they will be transported to their hometowns by ambulance.
Shahid Rind said initial information showed the bus had been overcrowded after taking on additional passengers from another bus that had broken down.
Official Reactions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of precious lives. In a statement, he prayed for peace for the departed souls and offered heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families. He also prayed for the early recovery of the injured and directed authorities to provide all possible medical assistance.
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed sorrow over the deaths. Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said on X that he was “deeply saddened” to hear of the accident and ordered an inquiry into how it happened. “I extend my condolences to the families of the deceased and pray for the swift recovery of the injured,” he said, adding that immediate medical support was being provided to the injured.
Context and Road Safety
Fatal accidents are common on Pakistan’s roads, often caused by reckless driving, bad road surfaces, and poorly maintained vehicles. In 2024, at least 17 pilgrims were killed and 40 others injured after their bus fell into a ravine while traveling to Balochistan for Eid celebrations.
