QUETTA, Pakistan — Forty people lost their lives and eight others were hurt early Friday when a speeding, overcrowded bus veered off a highway and plummeted into a rocky ravine in southwestern Pakistan, officials reported, describing it as one of the most deadly road accidents the country has seen in recent memory.
The crash took place in Dana Sar, a remote area situated near the boundary between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces. Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government, said the bus lost control before falling into the ravine below.
Rind explained that the vehicle was not only carrying its own passengers but had also taken on riders from a second bus that had broken down along the route, leaving it dangerously overcrowded. He added that rescue teams were working to identify the victims of the crash.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, offering his condolences to the families of those who died and wishing a full and swift recovery to those who were injured. He also instructed the appropriate authorities to make sure the injured receive the highest quality of medical care available.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also released a statement conveying his grief over the lives lost and ordered officials to ensure survivors are given the best possible medical treatment.
Deadly road accidents are a recurring problem across Pakistan, driven by deteriorating road conditions, weak enforcement of traffic regulations, and reckless driving habits — issues that are especially pronounced in mountainous regions.
This latest disaster follows a similar tragedy in May, when a minibus collided with a parked bus along a motorway in northwestern Pakistan, leaving 17 people dead and five others injured.
