QUETTA – At least 40 people were killed and eight others sustained injuries after a passenger bus traveling from Quetta to Peshawar plunged into a ravine near the border area between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Friday, officials said.
According to initial reports, the accident occurred when the bus departed from the Dana Sar area of Sherani district in Balochistan and crossed into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan region, where it went off the road and fell into a deep ravine.
A statement issued by Shahid Rind, aide to the Balochistan chief minister on media and political affairs, confirmed that “according to initial reports, 40 people have been killed and eight others injured in the accident.”
Sherani Deputy Commissioner Wali Khan Kakar earlier confirmed the location of the incident and told Dawn that the bus had originally left Quetta with 36 passengers. However, additional passengers reportedly boarded the vehicle after another bus broke down along the route.
Separately, KP Rescue 1122 stated that a total of 48 passengers were on board when the bus crashed into the ravine.
Rescue operations were launched immediately after the incident on the directives of Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti. Authorities from both provinces, along with rescue teams and relevant departments, are taking part in relief efforts for the injured.
Officials added that a full investigation will be conducted to determine the cause of the tragic accident. The provincial government also expressed condolences to the families of those who lost their lives.
