A tragic road accident took place when a Peshawar-bound passenger bus fell into a deep ravine shortly after leaving the Dhanasar area of Sherani district in Balochistan and crossing into Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

According to officials, the bus was travelling late on Thursday evening when it plunged approximately 70 to 80 feet down a rugged mountainous slope, resulting in a massive loss of life.Initial reports confirmed that 40 passengers were killed while 8 others sustained injuries.

Rescue 1122 teams from both provinces, along with local emergency services, immediately reached the remote site and launched difficult rescue operations due to challenging terrain and limited access.

The injured were shifted to the District Headquarters Hospital in Zhob, while the bodies were first taken to a nearby rural health centre before being moved to the DHQ hospital.

Officials said the bus was carrying around 48 passengers at the time of the crash, and it was later revealed that additional passengers had boarded from another broken-down vehicle on the route, leading to overcrowding.

Authorities suspect overloading may have contributed to the accident, though a formal investigation has been ordered by the Balochistan government to determine the exact cause.

Political leaders including the Prime Minister and President expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and directed authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the injured.The Balochistan Chief Minister also ordered urgent rescue and relief operations.

The incident highlights recurring road safety concerns in Pakistan’s mountainous regions, where poor road conditions and overloading frequently result in fatal accidents.