A passenger bus veered off a mountain road and plummeted into a ravine near the Balochistan-Khyber Pakhtunkhwa border early today, killing at least 40 people. Emergency responders say the vehicle was traveling from Quetta to Karachi when it struck a bridge pillar and caught fire.
The crash occurred in the Lasbela district. Initial reports suggest the driver lost control of the vehicle due to high speed while navigating a sharp turn, sending the bus tumbling into the deep gorge.
“We pulled 40 bodies from the wreckage,” said Hamza Anjum, a local administrative official coordinating the rescue effort. “Most of the victims were charred beyond recognition. We are relying on DNA testing to confirm identities.”
Eight survivors were recovered from the site, many suffering from severe burns and blunt force trauma. They were rushed to the Civil Hospital in Lasbela, though doctors warned that several remain in critical condition.
The scale of the disaster has overwhelmed local medical facilities. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as villagers and rescue workers scrambled to reach the bus, which was trapped in a difficult-to-access area. By the time fire crews arrived, the vehicle was almost entirely incinerated.
Road safety remains a persistent crisis in the region. Poorly maintained highways, lack of guardrails on mountain passes, and a culture of reckless driving on long-haul routes contribute to a high frequency of fatal accidents. This stretch of road, known for its narrow turns and steep drops, has seen multiple similar incidents in recent years.
The provincial government has ordered an inquiry into the crash. While officials promise to review the safety protocols of transport companies operating on the route, families of the victims are already demanding accountability for the lack of emergency infrastructure in one of the country’s most dangerous transit corridors.
For now, the focus remains on the grim task of recovery. As rescue crews continue to sift through the debris, the death toll could rise further.
