QUETTA: At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured when a Peshawar-bound passenger bus fell into a ravine just as it left the Dhanasar area of Balochistan’s Sherani district and crossed the provincial border into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Dera Ismail Khan on Friday, officials said.

“According to initial reports, 40 people have been killed and eight others injured in the accident,” a statement issued by the Balochistan chief minister’s aide for media and political affairs, Shahid Rind, said.

It added that rescue efforts were initiated soon after the incident on Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti’s directives.

“District administrations from both provinces, rescue and other relevant departments are providing assistance to the affected persons,” the statement said, adding that the incident would be investigated to bring facts to light.

Earlier, Sherani Deputy Commissioner (DC) Wali Khan Kakar confirmed the location and other details of the incident to Dawn, saying that the bus left Quetta with 36 passengers, but more people from another broken-down bus boarded it midway.

Separately, a statement by KP Rescue 1122 said 48 passengers were aboard the bus when it fell into the ravine.

It added that teams from Zhob emergency services and Rescue 1122 reached the site soon after receiving information about the accident.

The eight injured people were taken to District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) in Zhob while the bodies were initially taken to a nearby rural health centre. The bodies were later shifted to Zhob DHQ, the Rescue 1122 statement said.

Rescue efforts were ongoing, it said.

Condolences

Meanwhile, President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief and extended condolences to the victims’ families.

An X post by the Presidency said he prayed for the swift recovery of the injured and directed the relevant departments to ensure the provision of best possible medical facilities to the injured.

“The entire nation shares the grief of the affected families after this tragic incident,” the statement quoted him as saying.

Balochistan CM Bugti also expressed grief over the incident and extended condolences to the bereaved in a post on X.

He said he had directed the relevant departments to expedite rescue efforts, provide the best medical facilities to the injured and ensure all possible assistance for the affected families.

“The Balochistan government is standing with the affected families at this difficult time,” he said.

Today’s incident comes around two-and-a-half months after a vehicle plunged into a deep ravine in the Nawagai Asbanr area of KP’s Lower Dir area, leaving three women dead and two people injured.

Prior to that, a jeep carrying five passengers skidded off a wet, slippery road and plunged into a deep ravine in Upper Chitral in KP on March 31. As a result, three people, including a child, were killed and two others were injured.

Additional input from Saleem Shahid

This is a developing story that is being updated as the situation evolves. Initial reports in the media can sometimes be inaccurate. We will strive to ensure timeliness and accuracy by relying on credible sources, such as concerned, qualified authorities and our staff reporters.