QUETTA: At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured after a passenger bus travelling from Quetta to Peshawar plunged into a deep ravine in the mountainous Dhana Sar area of Balochistan’s Sherani district on Friday, in one of the deadliest road accidents in recent months.
According to district authorities, the tragic incident occurred in the early hours of the morning, around 400 kilometres from Quetta, when the bus reportedly lost control on a dangerous mountainous stretch and fell more than 70 feet into a gorge. The impact completely destroyed the vehicle, leaving several passengers trapped inside the wreckage.
Deputy Commissioner Sherani, Hazrat Ali Kakar, confirmed that 40 bodies had been recovered from the scene, while eight injured passengers were rescued and shifted to Zhob for medical treatment. He said women and children were among those killed in the devastating accident.
Rescue 1122 Sherani official Sanaullah, who supervised the operation at the site, said emergency teams faced immense challenges due to the difficult terrain and the severity of the crash.
“The bus was badly mangled after falling into the ravine. Many passengers were trapped inside the wreckage, and rescuers had to work carefully to pull them out,” he said. He added that the injured were prioritised and shifted for emergency treatment. The nearest major government hospital, located in Zhob, is nearly 70 to 80 kilometres away from the accident site.
Officials said the bus had originally departed Quetta carrying 36 passengers. However, authorities later revealed that passengers from another bus, which had broken down on the route, were also shifted into the same vehicle, increasing the number of passengers onboard and contributing to the higher casualty toll.
The accident took place in a remote and sparsely populated mountainous region. Authorities said the incident came to light when the driver of a passing pickup truck informed a nearby security checkpoint, triggering the rescue response.
Rescue teams from Sherani, Zhob, and Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa rushed to the site. Assistant Commissioner Zhob Naveed Alam said emergency had been declared at the district’s Civil Hospital and Trauma Centre, while 20 ambulances were dispatched from Zhob to assist in transporting victims.
The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government also joined the rescue efforts after a formal request from Balochistan. According to Rescue 1122 Dera Ismail Khan, two rescue teams along with six ambulances were sent to support the operation.
Meanwhile, officials are investigating the circumstances leading to the crash. A government officer stationed in the area, speaking on condition of anonymity, disclosed that the bus had been stopped at a nearby security checkpoint for some time before the accident. He claimed security personnel had confiscated extra Iranian diesel being carried on the vehicle.
Authorities suspect the delay may have prompted the driver to speed up in an attempt to make up lost time, although this has not been officially confirmed.
In a dramatic turn, one of the injured passengers, identified as Hussain Ahmad, alleged that the driver may have intentionally swerved the bus into the ravine following an argument with passengers. Speaking from Zhob Trauma Centre, he said tensions had escalated during the journey. According to the survivor, the driver was angry after his fuel was confiscated and had reportedly blamed passengers for the incident. He claimed the driver, in a fit of rage, turned the steering wheel abruptly, causing the bus to plunge into the gorge.
However, officials said the claim remains unverified and stressed that all aspects of the incident are under investigation.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and ordered immediate rescue operations. He said the provincial government had mobilised all relevant departments to ensure timely medical assistance for the injured and support for the affected families.
The chief minister also ordered a formal inquiry into the incident and directed the provincial transport secretary to submit a comprehensive report on the causes of the crash.
Provincial government spokesman Shahid Rind said the investigation would be conducted in a transparent and impartial manner to identify the real causes and recommend measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Balochistan Governor Jaffar Khan Mandokhail also expressed grief and instructed authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured, while appealing to local residents to assist rescue teams and donate blood if needed.
The deadly crash has once again highlighted the persistent dangers of road travel in the country’s mountainous regions, where poor infrastructure, overloaded vehicles, and reckless driving continue to pose serious risks to passengers.
