At least 40 people have been killed and 11 others injured after an overloaded passenger bus veered off a mountain road and plunged into a deep ravine in Pakistan’s Balochistan province, authorities said on Friday.
The deadly crash occurred in the rugged Dana Sar area of Zhob district, underscoring the continuing road safety challenges in Pakistan, where poor infrastructure, dangerous driving conditions and weak enforcement of traffic regulations contribute to frequent fatal accidents.
Emergency officials said rescue teams worked for hours to recover victims from the wreckage after the bus fell more than 20 metres (70 to 80 feet) into the ravine.
According to officials, the passenger bus had departed from Quetta, the capital of Balochistan province, on Thursday evening and was travelling to Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan when the accident occurred.
Sanaullah Sherani, head of the emergency centre in Zhob district, confirmed the death toll and said several passengers survived the crash.
“A passenger bus travelling from Quetta to Peshawar plunged into a deep ravine in the mountainous Dana Sar area… 40 people have been confirmed dead and 11 others injured,” Sherani said.”
The injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment.
Authorities said three of the injured remain in critical condition, raising concerns that the death toll could rise.
Rescue Efforts Hampered by Mountainous Terrain
Officials said the challenging landscape made rescue operations particularly difficult.
The bus reportedly fell approximately 21 to 24 metres into the ravine after leaving the roadway.
“As the accident occurred in a rugged mountainous area, rescue teams faced significant difficulties during the initial phase of the operation,” Sherani explained.
Emergency responders from both Balochistan and neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces were deployed to assist with the rescue and recovery mission.
The remote location slowed efforts to reach survivors and retrieve bodies from the crash site.
According to Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Chief Minister of Balochistan, the bus had become overcrowded after taking on additional passengers whose own vehicle had broken down earlier along the route.
The extra passengers allegedly caused the bus to exceed its normal carrying capacity.
Officials have not yet determined whether the additional weight contributed directly to the crash, but authorities have launched a formal investigation.
The Chief Minister of Balochistan has ordered an inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the accident to establish its exact cause and determine whether negligence played a role.
Prime Minister Expresses Condolences
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of those killed.
In a statement, the Prime Minister also wished a speedy recovery for those injured in the accident.
Government officials have pledged full cooperation with investigators as authorities seek to determine what caused one of the country’s deadliest road accidents this year.
Road Safety Remains a Major Challenge
Serious traffic accidents remain common across Pakistan, particularly on highways that pass through mountainous regions where steep slopes, sharp bends and narrow roads increase the risk of fatal crashes.
Road safety experts have long pointed to a combination of speeding, vehicle overloading, inadequate maintenance, reckless driving and poor enforcement of traffic laws as major contributing factors.
Public transport vehicles travelling long distances frequently carry more passengers than their licensed capacity, increasing the severity of accidents when crashes occur.
Authorities have repeatedly announced plans to strengthen road safety measures, improve driver training and enforce transport regulations more strictly, but fatal crashes continue to claim hundreds of lives every year.
The latest tragedy is likely to renew calls for tighter enforcement of passenger limits and improved safety standards for long-distance public transportation.
READ ALSO: Pakistan Airstrikes in Eastern Afghanistan Kill Dozens
Investigation Underway
Investigators are expected to examine the condition of the bus, the driver’s actions, road conditions and the impact of overloading as part of the official inquiry.
Emergency officials continue to provide medical care to survivors while authorities work to identify victims and notify their families.
The findings of the investigation are expected to determine whether criminal or administrative action will be taken against those responsible for the operation of the vehicle.
AFP