An overcrowded passenger bus plunged from a highway into a rocky ravine in southwestern Pakistan early Friday, killing 40 people and injuring eight others. The vehicle went out of control in Dana Sar, a remote area near the border of the Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government.
Rind stated that the bus was overloaded not only with its intended passengers but also with people from another bus that had broken down. Rescuers are currently working to identify the deceased.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the crash, offering condolences to the families of those killed and wishing the injured a swift recovery. He directed authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical care. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also conveyed his grief and ordered a thorough response for the injured.
Road accidents are a frequent occurrence in Pakistan, often attributed to poor road conditions, lax enforcement of traffic laws, and unsafe driving practices, particularly in mountainous regions. In May, a similar incident involved a minibus colliding with a parked bus along a motorway in northwest Pakistan, resulting in 17 fatalities and five injuries.