In a truly unfortunate incident, at least five individuals tragically lost their lives and nine others sustained injuries when a passenger bus became engulfed in flames while traveling on Balochistan’s western bypass. This was reported by rescue services on Tuesday.
Three of the injured are currently in critical condition. All the wounded and the deceased have been transported to the Civil Hospital in Quetta, and authorities are actively searching for the bus driver who reportedly absconded from the scene.
Expressing profound grief and sorrow over this tragic accident, the Balochistan government has promptly ordered an investigation into the incident.
Spokesperson Shahid Rind stated, “The Balochistan government is deeply saddened and regretful over the fire incident [….] We extend our heartfelt sympathy to the families of the passengers who perished in the accident.”
Assuring that the injured are receiving the highest possible standard of medical assistance, the spokesperson affirmed that stringent action would be taken against those found responsible once the investigation is complete.
“All possible help and support will be provided to the affected families,” Rind added.
Prevalence of Road Accidents in Pakistan
Traffic accidents involving passenger buses and heavy vehicles are regrettably quite common in Pakistan, attributed to a combination of various contributing factors.
Just a few days prior, as many as 15 people were injured in a collision between a passenger bus and a water tanker near the Police Training Centre in Razzaqabad, Landhi, along the National Highway in Karachi.
The passengers, all residents of Orangi Town and members of a single family, were en route to Kalri Lake for a picnic. In total, over 15 individuals sustained injuries.
The incident occurred when a water tanker, attempting to overtake the bus, began honking and pushing from behind. As a result, the speeding bus driver lost control, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and crash into the sidewalk.
Even before that, 16 people were killed and several others sustained injuries after their passenger bus plunged into a ravine near the Bola Khan police station in Sindh’s Jamshoro district.
Deputy Commissioner Ghazanfar Qadri stated that the ill-fated bus was transporting workers from the Bheel community who were returning home after completing wheat harvest work in Balochistan.
