In a tragic incident in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan, at least 28 people have lost their lives after a bus they were traveling in fell into a ravine. The bus, which departed from Turbat city, was en route to the provincial capital, Quetta, located approximately 750 kilometers (466 miles) to the north. The accident occurred early Wednesday morning in the mountainous region of Washuk district.
Noorullah Essazai, a government health official in Washuk, confirmed the death toll to Al Jazeera, stating that a total of 54 passengers were on board the bus. He added that some of the survivors have sustained serious injuries and are currently receiving treatment at a local hospital. “We have eight to 10 critically injured patients and are making arrangements to send them to Quetta by helicopter, while some others will be shifted to a hospital in Khuzdar,” Essazai explained.
Muhammad Ismail, another government official in Washuk, detailed the accident, noting that the bus crashed through a bridge and fell into a rocky ravine. Among the deceased is the bus driver. The accident’s exact cause is yet to be determined, but road accidents are frequent in Pakistan, particularly in its mountainous regions such as Balochistan and the northwestern province of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
In response to the incident, Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement expressing his condolences and directed authorities to assist the injured. “We stand with the bereaved families in this difficult time and express our heartfelt sympathies with them,” the prime minister’s office stated.
Balochistan’s Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also expressed his sorrow over the loss of lives. “We share the grief of the families who lost their loved ones. We will provide medical facilities at the earliest to those injured in the accident,” Bugti’s statement read.
This tragic event is a stark reminder of the frequent and often deadly road accidents in Pakistan. Earlier this month, another bus accident in the northern area of Gilgit-Baltistan resulted in at least 20 fatalities and numerous injuries. The repeated occurrence of such accidents underscores the urgent need for improved road safety measures and infrastructure in the country.