QUETTA, Pakistan — An overcrowded passenger bus plunged into a rocky ravine in southwestern Pakistan early Friday, killing 40 people and injuring eight others after losing control on a highway near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to Associated Press reporting and local officials.
The crash occurred in the remote area of Dana Sar, where the bus veered off the road and fell into a ravine about 25 meters (80 feet) deep. Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government, said the vehicle had become overcrowded after taking on passengers from another bus that had broken down during the journey.
Authorities said the bus was carrying 48 passengers at the time of the crash. Rescue teams continued working for hours to identify those killed and transport victims from the difficult mountain terrain to nearby hospitals.
Investigation Underway
One injured survivor told local media from a hospital that several passengers objected after the driver stopped to pick up travelers from the disabled bus. The survivor claimed an argument followed and alleged that one passenger grabbed the driver by the neck before the bus went out of control.
Police said they were investigating the circumstances surrounding the crash. The survivor’s account could not be independently verified.
Challenging Rescue Operation
Emergency workers, assisted by paramilitary personnel, descended the steep mountainside to reach the wreckage, according to official Noor Zaman. Rescuers carried injured survivors on stretchers while recovering victims using makeshift carts to move them back up the rugged slope.
Regional administrator Hazrat Wali Kakar said the injured and those killed were transported to nearby hospitals. Most victims were identified using personal documents, although three bodies had not yet been identified.
Families Seek Information
The accident prompted anxious relatives across Pakistan to contact hospitals, emergency services and police in search of information about family members traveling on the bus.
■ Related News
In the northwestern city of Peshawar, resident Nasir Khan said his brother had called from Quetta the previous evening to say he was traveling home on the bus. When he failed to arrive, the family feared he had been involved in the crash and sought information from authorities.
National Condolences
Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of those who died.
Road accidents remain a significant public safety challenge in Pakistan, where poor road conditions, limited enforcement of traffic regulations and unsafe driving practices contribute to frequent fatal crashes, particularly in mountainous regions. In May, a separate motorway collision in northwestern Pakistan killed 17 people and injured five others.
Authorities are continuing efforts to identify the remaining victims while investigators work to determine the cause of Friday’s crash.
Tags: Pakistan, Balochistan, Bus Crash, Road Safety, Quetta, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Rescue Operation, Traffic Accident, Asif Ali Zardari, Public Safety, Emergency Response, Asia
