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

At least five people were killed and 27 others seriously injured on Wednesday morning when a passenger bus travelling from Rawalpindi to Multan plunged into a 100-foot-deep ravine in Chakwal, officials said.

Rescue officials said the accident occurred near the hilly terrain of Dhok Pathan in Talagang, a difficult stretch of road where sharp turns cut through steep slopes. Dense fog and poor visibility forced the bus off course, causing it to skid and fall into the ravine.

Local residents were among the first to reach the site and helped rescue teams pull victims from the wreckage. Rescue 1122 and the district administration later shifted the injured to Talagang City Hospital, while the bodies were taken to the Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Talagang.

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

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

Read: Six killed as ambulance collides with bus

The assistant commissioner of Talagang said dense fog combined with the hilly terrain caused the bus to lose control. Motorway and CPEC routes had been closed due to fog, forcing traffic, including the bus, onto the GT Road.

“The bus lost control while navigating steep roads in foggy conditions,” a rescue official said, adding that investigations were under way.

Authorities urged drivers to exercise extreme caution as fog continues to reduce visibility across large parts of Punjab. Several major motorways in the province have been shut over traffic safety concerns.

Bus accidents are common in Pakistan, often blamed on 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 Motorway near Fateh Jang.

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