QUETTA: At least 40 people were killed after a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in Pakistan’s southwestern Balochistan province on Friday, local authorities said.
The accident occurred on the Sherani-Zhob Highway, in the Dhana Sar area of Sherani district, about 35 kilometers (22 miles) from Zhob and 130 kilometers (81 miles) from Dera Ismail Khan in the neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.
Sherani Deputy Commissioner Khazrat Wali Kakar confirmed the death toll and said the victims included women and children.
Eight injured passengers were taken to nearby hospitals, where they are receiving medical treatment, he said.
Khazrat Wali Kakar said efforts were underway to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured and transfer them to nearby hospitals. He said the district administration was closely monitoring the situation and that the final casualty count would be confirmed after rescue operations were completed.
Sherani Assistant Commissioner Habib Nasir said the passenger bus was traveling from Balochistan to Peshawar with 48 passengers on board. He said 40 passengers were killed and eight others injured in the crash. The injured were being shifted to hospitals for treatment.
Health department officials said an emergency had been declared at nearby hospitals in Balochistan to ensure prompt medical care for the victims.
According to local authorities, the bus is believed to have veered off the road after suffering an apparent brake failure before plunging into the ravine.
Rescue teams and ambulances rushed to the scene and launched an emergency operation to recover victims and evacuate the injured.
CM Expresses Grief, Orders Immediate Relief
In a post on X, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfraz Bugti expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the families of those killed. He said he had directed the relevant authorities to expedite rescue and relief operations, ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured, and provide all necessary assistance to the affected families. He added that the provincial government stands with the victims’ families during this difficult time
بلوچستان اور خیبرپختونخوا کے سرحدی علاقے دانہ سر میں پیش آنے والے المناک مسافر بس حادثے پر دلی رنج و غم ہے۔ جاں بحق افراد کے لواحقین سے تعزیت اور زخمیوں کی جلد صحت یابی کے لیے دعاگو ہوں متعلقہ اداروں کو فوری امدادی کارروائیاں تیز کرنے، زخمیوں کو بہترین طبی سہولیات کی فراہمی اور…
— Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) July 3, 2026
District officials said rescue and relief efforts continued for several hours as authorities monitored the situation.
Police and local authorities are investigating the exact cause of the crash.
Pakistan records thousands of road fatalities each year, with traffic accidents often blamed on poorly maintained vehicles, reckless driving, and hazardous mountain roads, particularly in remote regions such as Balochistan.
