The difficult mountainous terrain has complicated rescue efforts, but operations remain underway.
At least 30 people were killed when a passenger bus traveling from Quetta to Peshawar fell into a deep ravine. PHOTO: EXPRESS
QUETA:
At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured when a New Mekhtar passenger coach traveling from Quetta to Peshawar plunged into a deep ravine in Danasar area on the Sherani-Zhob highway near the Balochistan-Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (KP) border on Friday.
According to the Medical Emergency Response Center (MERC), 40 bodies have been recovered from the accident site, while eight injured passengers have been taken to the Zhob Trauma Center. Six ambulances, 12 emergency medical technicians (EMT) and 10 light transport vehicle (LTV) drivers were deployed as part of the rescue operation.
In a statement, KP Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said the bus was carrying 48 passengers when it crashed near Zhob. Faizi said eight injured passengers received first aid at the scene before being transferred to the district headquarters hospital (DHQ) in Zhob.
According to rescue officials, teams from Sherani district administration, Rescue 1122, police, Frontier Corps (FC) and other relevant agencies rushed to the spot soon after the accident was reported. KP rescue personnel also joined the operation. The difficult mountainous terrain hampered rescue efforts, but all injured passengers and the bodies of the dead were eventually recovered from the ravine and taken to nearby hospitals.
The spokesperson said the bodies of 40 people who died in the accident were initially taken to a nearby Rural Health Center (RHC) before being transferred to DHQ Zhob Hospital by joint teams of Rescue 1122 Border Region Darazinda and Zhob Emergency Services.
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Faizi said Rescue 1122 personnel are working in coordination with Balochistan Emergency Services and other relevant agencies to provide timely assistance to the injured and support the families of the deceased.
He added that following the instructions of Rescue 1122 KP Director General Shah Fahad, if any of the victims are identified as residents of KP, Rescue 1122 will transport their bodies to their native areas in their ambulances with full respect.
Sherani Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar said the injured were receiving immediate medical treatment, while arrangements were being made to transport the bodies of the deceased to their native places. Sherani and Dera Ismail Khan hospitals were placed under a state of emergency following the accident.
Authorities said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.
One of the injured passengers claimed that the bus was carrying diesel without the passengers being informed. He alleged that the diesel was unloaded at the last Border Corps checkpost in Balochistan after an argument broke out between the passengers and the driver.
The passenger said the bus crashed shortly after. He added that when he regained consciousness he saw injured passengers and bodies scattered around the place, noting that there were many women and children on board.
Separately, Balochistan Chief Minister’s advisor Shahid Rind said Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti had ordered a formal inquiry into the accident. The Secretary of Transportation was tasked with conducting a thorough investigation and requested a detailed report on the causes and circumstances of the accident.
Rind said the government had decided to conduct a transparent and impartial investigation into all aspects of the incident, adding that any negligence or dereliction of duty discovered during the investigation would not be tolerated. Those responsible would be identified in accordance with the law and the facts.
He said the government will provide all possible assistance to affected families and implement necessary safety reforms to help prevent similar tragedies and improve public transport safety in the future.
Condolences
Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives in the bus accident.
Condolences to the bereaved families, prayed for the elevation of the ranks of those who lost their lives in this tragic incident. They ordered authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.
Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and directed the relevant authorities to expedite rescue operations and ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical treatment. He also conveyed his condolences and solidarity to the bereaved families.
KP Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also expressed his regret and directed Rescue 1122, district administration and all relevant authorities to continue relief operations without delay, emphasizing that no negligence or delay in the rescue effort would be tolerated.
He directed officials to ensure that the injured received the best possible medical treatment and directed all relevant 1122 Rescue teams to remain in close coordination and cooperation with the Balochistan Emergency Services.
The Prime Minister also ordered immediate identification of victims belonging to KP and instructed authorities to establish contact with their families without delay. He further ordered that the bodies of KP residents who lost their lives in the accident be transported to their native places with full dignity and respect.
Afridi directed the relevant authorities to provide all possible assistance and facilities to the affected families.
Expressing deep grief over the loss of precious lives, the Prime Minister extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the accident.
