Overcrowded bus crash kills 40 near Balochistan-KP border

• Peshawar-bound bus carrying 48 passengers falls into nearly 400 feet ravine

• Eight injured as rescue teams recover victims from mountainous terrain

• Officials say bus had taken passengers from another stranded vehicle

• Investigation launched into cause of deadly accident

• PM, President and provincial leaders offer condolences

 QUETTA: At least 40 passengers were killed and eight others injured on Friday after an overcrowded Peshawar-bound bus plunged into a deep ravine shortly after leaving the Dhana Sar area of Balochistan's Sherani district and crossing into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, officials said.

The bus, carrying 48 passengers, veered off a narrow mountain road and plunged nearly 400 feet into a ravine while travelling from Quetta to Peshawar, shortly after crossing the provincial border into Dera Ismail Khan district, according to KP Rescue 1122 officials who reached the scene from Dera Ismail Khan and nearby areas.

Sherani Deputy Commissioner Hazar Wali Kakar said the bus was overcrowded as the driver had also accommodated passengers from another bus that had broken down on the route.

بلوچستان کے ضلع شیرانی میں پیش آنے والے افسوسناک بس حادثے پر ریسکیو 1122 خیبر پختونخوا کی ٹیمیں ایمرجنسی سروسز بلوچستان کے شانہ بشانہ امدادی کارروائیوں میں مصروف ہیں

زخمیوں کو فوری طبی امداد اور ہسپتال منتقلی کے ساتھ جاں بحق افراد کے جسدِ خاکی کی منتقلی کا عمل بھی جاری ہے pic.twitter.com/MaTEsukN15

— KP_Rescue1122 (@KPRescue1122) July 3, 2026

"Forty passengers were killed in the tragic incident and eight sustained injuries," the deputy commissioner confirmed, adding that the bodies and injured were shifted to Zhob Trauma Centre while rescue operations continued.

صوبائی حکومت کے احکامات پر

بلوچستان کے ضلع شیرانی میں پیش آنے والے افسوسناک بس حادثے پر خیبر پختونخوا سے تعلق رکھنے والے جاں بحق افراد کے جسدِ خاکی کو ریسکیو 1122 کی ایمبولینسوں کے ذریعے ان کے آبائی علاقوں تک پہنچایا جائے گا

شاہ فہد
ڈائریکٹر جنرل ریسکیو1122 https://t.co/zvufXiy1b2

— KP_Rescue1122 (@KPRescue1122) July 3, 2026

Dr Sultan Ahmed, Medical Superintendent at Zhob District Headquarters Hospital, said the injured were being treated and the bodies were being identified. He added that four critically injured passengers had been referred to Quetta for advanced medical treatment.

The deputy commissioner said authorities were investigating the cause of the crash, with preliminary findings suggesting the driver lost control of the speeding vehicle.

The death toll was first announced by Balochistan government officials and was later confirmed by KP Rescue 1122.

In a statement, Balochistan Chief Minister's Adviser on Media and Political Affairs Shahid Rind said rescue operations were launched immediately after the accident on the directives of Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti.

Rind said the bus had departed Quetta on Thursday evening and became overloaded after taking on additional passengers from another bus that had broken down en route.

"The district administrations of both provinces, rescue services and other relevant departments are providing all possible assistance to the affected persons," the statement said, adding that the incident would be thoroughly investigated to establish the facts.

A separate statement issued by KP Rescue 1122 said emergency teams from Zhob and Rescue 1122 reached the accident site soon after receiving information and launched rescue operations.

The eight injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Zhob, while the bodies were initially moved to a nearby rural health centre before being transferred to Zhob DHQ Hospital. Rescue 1122 confirmed that 48 passengers were aboard the ill-fated bus.

Sanaullah Sherani, head of the emergency centre in Zhob, told AFP that the bus fell about 70 to 80 feet into the ravine and that rescue teams faced considerable difficulties during the initial operation because of the rugged mountainous terrain.

He said Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti had ordered an inquiry into the accident.

In a subsequent statement, the provincial government said the investigation had been assigned to the provincial transport secretary.

"A comprehensive report has been sought detailing the accident's causes and all facts," the statement said, adding that negligence, if found, would not be tolerated.

It also said effective safety measures would be introduced to help prevent similar accidents in the future and that necessary reforms would be implemented to improve public transport safety.

Later in the day, the Edhi Foundation said the identities of 26 victims had been confirmed, while four women, one child and two men were yet to be identified.

PM, President, KP and Balochistan CMs express grief

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed profound sorrow over the loss of lives and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.

وزیراعظم محمد شہباز شریف کا بلوچستان اور خیبرپختونخوا کے سرحدی علاقے شیرانی دانہ سر میں بس حادثے میں قیمتی جانوں کے ضیاع پر اظہار افسوس
وزیراعظم کا اس المناک حادثے میں جاں بحق ہونے والے افراد کی بلندی ء درجات کی دعاء#PMShehbazSharif #Condolences #LatestNews pic.twitter.com/YDvjjwZHXj

— APP (@appcsocialmedia) July 3, 2026

President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed grief and extended condolences to the bereaved families. According to the Presidency, he directed the relevant authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured.

صدرِ مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا ژوب۔شیرانی شاہراہ پر مسافر بس حادثے پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار۔

صدرِ مملکت کی حادثے میں جاں بحق ہونے والوں کے لیے دعائے مغفرت، لواحقین سے دلی ہمدردی اور تعزیت کا اظہار۔

صدرِ مملکت کی زخمیوں کی جلد اور مکمل صحت یابی کے لیے دعا۔

صدرِ مملکت کی…

— The President of Pakistan (@PresOfPakistan) July 3, 2026

"The entire nation shares the grief of the affected families after this tragic incident," the statement quoted the president as saying.

Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti also expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and said he had directed the relevant departments to expedite rescue operations, provide the best medical care to the injured and extend every possible assistance to the affected families.

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

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

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Sohail Afridi also expressed grief and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and provide all necessary assistance to the victims' families.

وزیراعلیٰ خیبرپختونخوا محمد سہیل آفریدی کا کوئٹہ سے آنے والی مسافر بس کو پیش آنے والے حادثے پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار pic.twitter.com/1OuEnbmrxH

— Government of KP (@GovernmentKP) July 3, 2026

A statement issued by the Chief Minister's Office said he further directed the relevant teams to remain in close coordination with emergency services in Balochistan.

He also instructed the authorities to identify victims belonging to KP and facilitate contact with their families, while ensuring that the bodies of deceased passengers from Balochistan were transported to their native areas with full respect.

KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi described the accident as "extremely tragic", expressing solidarity with the bereaved families and directing the authorities to provide the injured with the best available medical treatment and all possible support to the affected families.

Road accidents remain a major public safety challenge in Balochistan, where poor road infrastructure, dangerous mountain routes, reckless driving and inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations contribute to hundreds of fatalities every year. Across Pakistan, road crashes are frequently linked to poor road conditions, unsafe driving practices and weak enforcement of traffic laws, particularly in mountainous regions.