40 Dead as Overcrowded Bus Falls into Ravine in Southwest Pakistan

QUETTA, Pakistan — A speeding, overcrowded passenger bus crashed from a highway into a rocky ravine in southwestern Pakistan early Friday, killing 40 people and injuring eight others in one of the deadliest road accidents in recent years, officials reported.

The bus lost control and plunged into the ravine in Dana Sar, a remote region near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, according to Shahid Rind, a spokesperson for the Balochistan government.

Rind stated the vehicle was overcrowded, carrying passengers from its own bus and an additional group from another bus that had broken down. Rescuers are working to identify those killed in the crash.

Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the incident, offered condolences to the bereaved families, and wished the injured a swift recovery. He also directed authorities to ensure the victims receive optimal medical care.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also conveyed grief over the loss of life and instructed officials to guarantee the injured receive the best possible treatment.

Such road accidents are common in Pakistan due to poor road infrastructure, weak enforcement of traffic regulations, and hazardous driving practices, particularly in mountainous regions.

In May, a minibus collided with a parked bus on a motorway in northwest Pakistan, resulting in 17 fatalities and five injuries.

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