Pakistan bus crash kills 40 as vehicle plunges into ravine

A passenger bus plunged into a rocky ravine in southwestern Pakistan on Friday, resulting in the deaths of 40 people. Eight additional passengers sustained injuries in the crash, which occurred at approximately 08:00 local time in Dana Sar. The location is a remote, mountainous region situated on the border between the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces.

The vehicle, which was travelling from Quetta toward Peshawar, reportedly lost control and fell between 21 to 24 meters, or 70 to 80 feet, into the gorge. According to emergency officials in the Zhob district, there were 48 passengers on board the bus at the time of the incident.

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Conflicting accounts of the crash

The events leading up to the vehicle leaving the highway remain under investigation by local authorities. One survivor, speaking from a hospital bed, provided an account to local media suggesting a dispute occurred after the driver halted to accommodate passengers from a separate bus that had previously broken down. The witness claimed a passenger grabbed the driver by the neck during the argument, leading to the loss of control. Police have not yet verified this version of events.

Other officials have offered different perspectives on the primary causes of the disaster. A police official indicated that speeding was a likely contributing factor, while some preliminary reports pointed toward a potential steering fault. Officials from the Balochistan government confirmed the bus was significantly overcrowded at the time of the plunge, as it had consolidated travellers from a disabled vehicle.

Rescue and recovery challenges

The remote nature of the crash site hindered the initial efforts of emergency responders. Rescuers from both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces were deployed to the area, yet the steep, rocky slope created significant obstacles for teams.

"As the accident occurred in a rugged mountainous area, rescue teams faced significant difficulties during the initial phase of the operation,"

Sanaullah Sherani, head of the emergency center in Zhob district, via AFP

Emergency personnel and paramilitary forces were required to climb down the mountainside to reach the wreckage. Recovered victims and those who survived were transported using makeshift carts and stretchers up the rugged incline. From there, the injured and the deceased were moved to the District Headquarters hospital in Zhob, located approximately 68km from the site. Regional government administrator Hazrat Wali Kakar noted that while most of the deceased were identified via documentation found on their persons, three individuals remained unidentified immediately following the recovery operation.

Official response

The scale of the accident has prompted significant reactions from national and provincial leadership. President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the crash and offered condolences to the victims' families. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed his grief over the loss of life and confirmed he had ordered an official inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the crash.

Road accidents are common in Pakistan because of poor road conditions, inadequate enforcement of traffic laws and unsafe driving practices, particularly in mountainous areas. The crash has left many families seeking information, with relatives in cities like Peshawar attempting to reach emergency services to determine the fate of passengers who had been travelling on the route.