32 Killed as Overcrowded Bus Plunges into Ravine in Pakistan
At least 32 people have died and 16 others were injured after an overcrowded passenger bus veered off a mountain road and fell into a ravine in southwestern Pakistan, officials said on Friday.
The bus was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar when it crashed in the Dana Sar mountain range, on the border between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, at approximately 08:00 local time (03:00 GMT).
A government official at Zhob Hospital confirmed that a total of 48 people, including women and children, were on board at the time of the accident.
Initial investigations point to a possible steering fault, which may have caused the driver to lose control, leading the vehicle to skid off the road and plunge into the ravine. The exact cause remains under investigation.
Photographs from the scene showed the bus badly damaged after falling to the bottom of the ravine. Rescue teams faced challenges due to the difficult terrain.
Sanaullah Sherani, head of Zhob district's emergency service, told AFP that the bus fell approximately 21 to 24 metres into the ravine.
Dozens of emergency responders and ambulances were deployed to the scene. The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Zhob, about 68 kilometres from the crash site. Bodies of the deceased were also taken to the hospital; after identification, they will be transported to their hometowns.
Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for Balochistan's chief minister, said initial information indicated that the bus had been overcrowded after taking on additional passengers from another bus that had broken down.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed sorrow over the deaths. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti said he was deeply saddened and ordered an inquiry into the accident. He extended condolences to the families and assured immediate medical support for the injured.
Road accidents are common in Pakistan, often due to reckless driving, poor road conditions, and poorly maintained vehicles. In 2024, at least 17 pilgrims died when their bus fell into a ravine in Balochistan during Eid celebrations.
