At least 11 people were killed and 35 others injured on Sunday when a bus overturned and fell into a ditch on the Makran coastal highway.
Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Lasbela, Capt. Naveed Alam, stated that the bus, carrying pilgrims from Iran to Punjab, overturned near Buzzi Top due to the driver losing control of the vehicle because of overspeeding. Four passengers remained trapped inside the coach, and a crane was called to assist in their rescue, according to SSP Alam.
Hakeem Lassi, Edhi in-charge Lasbela, reported that the deceased and injured were from Lahore and Gujranwala. Rescue operations were being conducted by the army, Rescue 1122, and Edhi, with the injured transported to a civil hospital.
The bus was carrying approximately 60 passengers, as confirmed by Ali Hassan, one of the injured passengers from Gujranwala.
District Commissioner (DC) Hub, Rohana Gul Kakar, mentioned that five injured individuals were treated at Jam Ghulam Qadir Hospital in Hub before being transferred to Karachi. One body was also brought to the Rural Health Centre in Winder. An emergency was declared in Hub’s hospitals to treat the injured, and Balochistan’s CM advisor on commerce and industries, Mir Ali Hassan Zehri, stated that the Sindh government and health department authorities were contacted to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured.
Travel Ban Imposed from Iran’s Gabd to Gwadar
Gwadar DC Hamoodur Rehman has imposed a complete travel ban on the movement of pilgrims from Iran’s Gabd to Gwadar for safety reasons, according to a statement from the district administration. The statement also noted that Iran has banned the entry of pilgrims, advising them to avoid travel during this time to improve travel facilities.
Condolences and Response
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the accident and urged that timely medical aid be provided to the injured. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori also expressed their grief over the loss of lives, with Tessori instructing that the injured be shifted to Karachi and given all necessary medical facilities. Both leaders expressed their solidarity with the families of the deceased during this tragic time.
