QUETTA: Nine people were killed and over 50 others injured on Thursday when a bus carrying a wedding party veered off the road and fell into a ditch near the Balochistan capital’s Western Bypass.

Three children and a wom­an were among the dead.

Police and rescue workers retrieved the bodies and the injured from the wreckage of the ill-fated bus and removed them to Civil Hospital.

Emergency was declared at all government-run hospitals in Quetta.

“We received nine bodies and 30 injured passengers at Civil Hospital,” Dr Wasim Baig, a spokesman for the hospital, said.

“Five of the injured are in serious condition.”

Seven of the dead were identified as Zeenat, Zanzibar, Safia, Aliya, Bibi Aliya, Nasibullah and Haji Naqibullah.

CM offers condolences

Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti expressed sorrow over the loss of lives in the accident.

Mr Bugti issued instructions to the provincial health department to ensure the best treatment possible to the injured persons.

In his message, the chief minister offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for an early recovery of the injured persons.

Mr Bugti ordered an inquiry to ascertain facts that caused the accident.

Published in Dawn, October 4th, 2024