At least 40 individuals lost their lives and eight others sustained injuries following a tragic incident where an overcrowded bus plunged into a ravine in south-west Pakistan.
The devastating crash occurred on the Zhob-Sherani Highway in the Dana Sar area, near the boundary between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, early on Friday, according to officials.
The bus, transporting passengers from Quetta to Peshawar, veered off the road and fell around 70 to 80 feet into the ravine in the mountainous Dana Sar area, as confirmed by Sanaullah Sherani, the head of Zhob district’s emergency center.
A statement from Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind revealed that the bus was overloaded with passengers, including individuals from another broken-down bus. Rescue teams are actively engaged in identifying the deceased victims of the accident.
Pakistani President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event, extending sympathies to the affected families and wishing a swift recovery to the injured.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also conveyed his condolences and urged the authorities to ensure the injured receive the best medical care possible.
Fatal road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Pakistan due to substandard road conditions, lax enforcement of traffic regulations, and risky driving behaviors, particularly in hilly terrains.
Earlier incidents include a fatal crash in May where 17 people perished and five were injured when a minibus collided with a stationary bus on a motorway in north-west Pakistan. In January, two separate crashes claimed the lives of 24 individuals and left 45 others injured.
The first incident took place in Sargodha, Punjab province, where a truck skidded off the road in dense fog, plunging into a canal and causing 14 fatalities. Shortly after, a speeding bus overturned on the Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan, resulting in 10 deaths and 36 injuries.
Stay updated with timely news by selecting Daily Mirror as your ‘Preferred Source’ on Google News for quick access to valuable information.