Bus plunges into ravine in Chakwal, killing five people in dense fog

At least five people were killed and 27 others seriously injured on Wednesday morning when a passenger bus traveling from Rawalpindi to Multan plunged into a 30-metre-deep ravine in Chakwal, officials said.

Rescue officials said the accident occurred near the mountainous terrain of Dhok Pathan in Talagang, a difficult stretch of road where sharp curves traverse steep slopes. Dense fog and poor visibility forced the bus to divert, skidding and falling into the ravine.

Local residents were among the first to arrive at the scene and helped rescuers pull victims from the rubble. Later, Rescue 1122 and the district administration shifted the injured to Talagang City Hospital, while the bodies were shifted to Central Tehsil Hospital, Talagang.

Authorities said the injured included seven women, some of whom were in critical condition. Among the injured were passengers from Multan (six), Bahawalpur (five), Karachi (two), Layyah (two), Khanewal (three), Rahim Yar Khan (two), Swat (one), Rawalpindi (one) and other cities. The victims ranged in age from 15 to 60 years old.

The deceased were identified as Zia Ahmed, 40, of Kotli Sattian; Abdul Sattar, 56, from Multan; and Muhammad Ishaq, 33, from Lodhran. Authorities said the identities of two other victims were being confirmed.

Read: Six dead when an ambulance collides with a bus

The Talagang deputy commissioner said the dense fog combined with the mountainous terrain caused the bus to lose control. Expressway and CPEC routes were closed due to fog, forcing traffic, including bus, to enter GT Road.

“The bus lost control while traveling on steep roads in foggy conditions,” a rescue official said, adding that investigations were underway.

Authorities urged drivers to take extra caution as fog continues to reduce visibility in much of Punjab. Several major highways in the province have been closed for traffic safety reasons.

Bus accidents are common in Pakistan and are often attributed to driver negligence, poor road conditions and adverse weather. On January 1, at least 14 people were killed and 29 injured when a speeding passenger van collided head-on with a University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences bus on Faisalabad Road. In December 2025, at least 11 people were killed when a bus overturned on the M-14 highway near Fateh Jang.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief over the Chakwal accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.