36 perish in two road tragedies across Pakistan

RAWALPINDI/QUETTA: A bus accident on the Kahuta-Rawalpindi route claimed the lives of 25 people, including 17 men, 7 women, and 1 child.

The accident occurred when a passenger bus traveling from Rawalpindi to Palandri plunged into a deep ravine near Garari Bridge, Azad Pattan. One critically injured passenger was rescued from the wreckage and rushed to hospital.

Initial reports suggested that the bus lost control while navigating through the treacherous terrain of Kahuta Road. Rescue teams were swiftly dispatched to the scene.

Authorities confirmed that all 25 bodies were recovered from the crash site and transported to the District Headquarters and Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Kahuta. Deputy Commissioner Sudhnoti, Sardar Umar Farooq, confirmed the fatalities, stating that many of the victims were families traveling for personal reasons. The victims’ families have been notified as they await the formal handover of bodies for funeral arrangements.

Rescue efforts were led by an advance party of Rescue-1122, with over 25 workers and 12 emergency vehicles at the scene. The bus was severely damaged, trapping passengers inside. Rescue workers had to cut through the wreckage to retrieve the bodies, many of whom were crushed in the impact. Despite the severity of the crash, one survivor was found in critical condition and immediately transported to hospital.

The area near Garari Bridge, known for its risky terrain with sharp turns and steep inclines, posed significant challenges for rescue teams. Although the exact cause of the accident is unclear, authorities suspect that dangerous road conditions, mechanical failure or human error may have contributed to the tragedy.

The accident is a stark reminder of the hazards on hilly roads across Pakistan. Many locals have long voiced concerns over the lack of infrastructure and safety measures on the Kahuta Road, urging government intervention to prevent further accidents. The community is now in mourning, with calls for immediate improvements to road safety.

Meanwhile, at least 11 people were killed and 33 injured when a bus overturned on the Makran Coastal Highway in Lasbela, Balochistan, and fell into a ditch on Sunday. The bus, carrying pilgrims returning from Iran, fell into a ravine near Buzi Top due to brake failure caused by overspeeding. Additional Deputy Commissioner Lasbela, Siraj Kareem, said that the bus, which was carrying pilgrims from Iran to Pakistan and heading towards Punjab, met with an accident on the Makran Coastal Highway. The spokesperson of the Balochistan government, Shahid Rind, stated that seven critically injured pilgrims were initially shifted to the DHQ Uthal and later transferred to the Trauma Center in Karachi. The other 26 injured individuals were referred to Jam Ghulam Qadir Hospital in Hub for treatment. Rind mentioned that the condition of several injured individuals remains critical.

Rind added that a crane was being used to lift the bus, and there was a possibility that one or two more people may still be trapped underneath. He emphasized that the district administration was actively working to make the rescue operation effective.

The deceased have been identified as Tanveer Ahmed, son of Hafiz Wahid Bakhsh, resident of Multan; Shehzad Chauhan, son of Mir Ahmed, resident of Gujranwala; Shakeel Ahmed Minhas, son of Muhammad Zafeel, resident of Sheikhupura; Muhammad Sohail, son of Muhammad Saleem, resident of Gujranwala; Qaiser Ali, son of Nasrullah, resident of Gujranwala; Waqar Hussain, son of Munir Ahmed Chauhan, resident of Gujranwala; and Muhammad Asif, son of Nazar Muhammad, resident of Khanewal.

The injured have been identified as Ali Raza, son of Muhammad Anwar, Kamran Yousaf, son of Muhammad Yousaf, Umair Asghar, son of Asghar, Raza Shah, son of Riaz, Sher Yar, son of Ibad Ali, Mukarram, son of Akram, Muhammad Qasim, son of Azam, Khawar Hussain, son of Sabir Hussain, Ali Noor, son of Sabir, Amir Shehzad, son of Zulfiqar, Owais, son of Shabbir, Amir Hamza, son of Amjad, Jamil Hussain, son of Mushtaq Ali, Waseem Abbas, son of Abdul Rasheed, Imam Ali, son of Shehzad, Imran, son of Sharif, Hafiz Amjad, son of Muhammad Sharif, Farhan, Fayyaz Rana, Muhammad Talha, son of Sher, Faseel Khan, Azar Abbas, son of Gulzar Hussain, Imran, son of Khalid, Aun Haider, Nasir, Zulqarnain, son of Muhammad Yousaf, Shehzad Ali, son of Imam Ali, Nadeem Waqar, Asif, son of Noor, Aqeel, son of Ramzan, Waqar, son of Muhammad Jaman and Ramzan, son of Faqir Ahmed.

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zradari and Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday expressed deep grief and sorrow over the death of Zaireen in a bus accident on the Makran Coastal Highway and other casualties in another road mishap near Rawalpindi. The prime minister directed the local administration to fully cooperate with the bereaved families. He also directed for timely treatment and care for the injured in the accident.

The Chief Minister of Balochistan, Mir Sarfaraz Bugti, expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious lives in the accident. In a condolence message, the CM issued instructions to ensure immediate and effective treatment for the injured.

Meanwhile, Deputy Commissioner Gwadar Hamoodur Rehman expressed deep concern and displeasure over the negligence and irregularities found in the services provided by tour operators for pilgrims traveling from Pakistan to Iran. In a press release issued on Sunday, he mentioned that for the first time, Iran had issued a large number of permits for Pakistani pilgrims to visit religious sites. However, local tour operators failed to maintain discipline, leading to irregularities and damaging Pakistan’s reputation.

The deputy commissioner revealed that tour operators had provided vehicle numbers, chassis numbers and drivers’ names beforehand, but the actual vehicles and drivers used during the journey did not match the provided details. This negligence not only caused difficulties for the pilgrims but also posed significant challenges for the Government of Pakistan and Gwadar administration.

In his press release, the deputy commissioner stated that such irregularities and negligence will not be tolerated in future. A complete ban will be imposed on the entry of such buses and bogus drivers in Gwadar. He added that relevant tour operators and departments must obtain prior permission from the Gwadar administration and ensure that all data is accurately and transparently recorded before allowing pilgrims to travel. The district administration clarified that permission will only be granted after a thorough inspection of the tour operators’ vehicles and drivers to ensure that future pilgrimages are safe and well-organized.

The deputy commissioner added that several important recommendations will be presented to the government of Balochistan to develop a comprehensive strategy to prevent such incidents in the future. These recommendations aim to make the journey safer and more organized, ensuring a smooth and pleasant experience while upholding Pakistan’s positive image. The Government of Balochistan will take concrete steps based on these recommendations to alleviate the difficulties faced by pilgrims and improve overall arrangements, he added.