At least 28 people were killed and 22 injured when a bus fell into a ravine in Washuk, Balochistan on Wednesday. Officials reported that the bus was travelling from Turbat to Quetta with 45-50 passengers on board when a tyre burst and the bus fell into the ravine at around 5am.
Basima Deputy Commissioner Ismail Mengal said three women and three children were among the dead. The injured were initially taken to Basima Civil Hospital. Nine passengers were in critical condition and Pakistani forces were asked to airlift four to Quetta for specialised treatment. The remaining 17 injured are being treated at a local hospital in Washuk.
Due to the remote location and poor mobile phone network reception, there was a delay in notifying rescue teams, but once the news was received, they were quickly dispatched.
Many of the dead are yet to be identified and authorities are seeking the assistance of Gwadar civil administration in identifying them. Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Bugti expressed deep grief over the incident and offered condolences to the families of the victims. He assured that the injured would receive the best possible medical care and wished them a speedy recovery.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also lamented the high number of road accidents in Pakistan, attributing them to lax enforcement of traffic laws and inadequate safety measures, especially on rough roads.
