In the early hours of Wednesday, a tragic incident occurred in southwest Pakistan when a passenger bus, travelling at high speed, plunged into a rocky ravine from a highway, resulting in the death of at least 28 individuals and leaving 20 others injured, according to officials.
Asghar Ali, a local police officer, reported that the incident occurred near Washuk town as the bus was en route from Turbat—Baluchistan province’s second-largest city—to its capital, Quetta. The sudden loss of control by the driver led to this devastating accident, and police are in the process of gathering more information from those injured.
Following the accident, rescue teams and police swiftly arrived, providing immediate medical attention to the injured. The deceased and injured were transported to a hospital, with some of the wounded reported to be in critical condition. Photographs circulated by local media depicted the bus wreckage at the bottom of a ravine.
Sarfraz Bugti, Baluchistan’s chief minister, released a statement mourning the loss of lives and instructed that the injured receive the best possible medical care. Additionally, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi, in separate statements, expressed their condolences for the tragic loss of life.
This incident is part of a troubling trend of road accidents in Pakistan, attributed to the widespread neglect of traffic regulations and safety standards, particularly on poorly maintained roads in challenging terrains. This accident follows closely on the heels of another tragic event just three days prior, where 13 family members were killed in a collision between a van and a truck in Multan, located in Punjab province. Earlier in the month, another similar accident resulted in the death of at least 20 individuals and injured 30 more.