From Our Correspondent:Â
ZHOB: A devastating traffic accident near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has claimed at least 40 lives and left eight others seriously injured. The tragedy occurred on Friday when a Peshawar-bound passenger bus veered off the road and plunged into a deep ravine near the Dana Sar area of Sherani district.
​According to official sources, the vehicle had just crossed the provincial boundary into KP’s Dera Ismail Khan district when the driver lost control.
​Mid-Journey Passenger Increase
​The bus originally departed from Quetta carrying 36 passengers, according to Sherani Deputy Commissioner Wali Khan Kakar. However, the passenger count rose significantly midway through the journey after the vehicle picked up stranded travelers from another broken-down bus along the highway.
​A spokesperson for the KP Rescue 1122 service confirmed that a total of 48 people were on board at the time of the fatal plunge.
​Emergency Response and Rescue Efforts
​Following directives from Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti, a massive joint rescue operation was launched. Emergency teams from both provinces, including Rescue 1122 and Zhob emergency services, rushed to the remote site to pull survivors and victims from the wreckage.
​Casualties: 40 fatalities have been confirmed so far.
​The Injured: Eight survivors were rescued from the ravine and rushed to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Zhob for urgent medical treatment.
​Victim Recovery: The bodies of the deceased were initially taken to a local rural health center before being shifted to the Zhob DHQ Hospital.
​Shahid Rind, the Balochistan Chief Minister’s aide for media and political affairs, stated that district administrations from both Balochistan and KP are actively collaborating to manage the aftermath of the disaster. He added that a formal investigation will be launched immediately to determine the exact cause of the crash.
​Government Expresses Deep Grief
​Taking to social media platform X, Balochistan CM Sarfraz Bugti expressed his profound sorrow over the massive loss of life and offered his heartfelt condolences to the grieving families.
​”The Balochistan government stands firmly with the affected families during this incredibly painful time,” Bugti said. He added that authorities have been instructed to ensure the highest quality of medical care for the survivors and to provide comprehensive logistical support to the victims’ relatives.
