A speeding, overcrowded passenger bus plunged 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. The crash occurred in Dana Sar, a remote area near the border of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, officials said.
Initial reports suggest the bus was carrying passengers from another vehicle that had broken down, leaving it overcrowded. Rescuers transported the injured and dead to nearby hospitals, but recovery efforts were hampered by the rugged terrain. The bus fell 70 to 80 feet into the ravine, according to emergency officials.
Investigations are ongoing, with preliminary reports indicating a steering fault may have caused the driver to lose control. One survivor claimed passengers argued with the driver after he stopped to pick up additional passengers, but this account has not been independently verified. Authorities have ordered an inquiry into the crash.
Government officials, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressed sorrow over the tragedy. Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti directed an investigation into the accident's causes and extended condolences to the families of the victims.