In a tragic series of events on Sunday, at least 34 people lost their lives in two separate bus accidents across Pakistan. In the first incident, a passenger bus traveling from Kahuta to Rawalpindi plunged into a ditch, resulting in 25 fatalities and one injury. Rescue 1122 Punjab official Usman Gujjar reported that the accident was caused by the bus’s failed brakes.
The bus, carrying 26 passengers, was en route when it fell off the Girari Bridge on Kahuta’s Azad Pattan Road. Among the deceased were 20 men, four women, and one child. The bodies are being transported to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital in Kahuta. The Interior Ministry’s report, however, states that 29 people died in the crash.
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has expressed profound sorrow and condolences, urging immediate medical assistance for the injured. President Asif Ali Zardari and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also conveyed their sympathies and called for accelerated relief efforts.
In the second accident, a separate bus crash on the Makran Coastal Highway in the southwest resulted in the deaths of twelve pilgrims, according to the Interior Ministry. Rescue operations revealed that 22 people were killed and one critically injured when their bus fell into a ravine in Pakistan-ruled Kashmir. The official toll for this crash varies, with the Interior Ministry reporting 29 fatalities.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi extended heartfelt condolences to the victims’ families for both incidents, reflecting the deep national grief over these tragedies.
In related news, a recent accident involving Pakistani pilgrims in central Iran resulted in 28 deaths and 23 injuries, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by travelers in the region.
Key Notes:
- Accidents Overview:
- First Incident: A coaster traveling from Kahuta to Rawalpindi fell into a ditch, resulting in at least 25 deaths and one injury.
- Second Incident: A bus on the Makran Coastal Highway crashed, killing 12 pilgrims. Additionally, a bus in Pakistan-ruled Kashmir fell into a ravine, causing 22 deaths and one critical injury.
- Victims and Injuries:
- Kahuta-Rawalpindi Crash:
- 25 dead (20 men, 4 women, 1 child)
- 1 critically injured
- Total passengers: 26
- Pakistan-Ruled Kashmir Crash:
- 22 dead
- 1 critically injured
- Total passengers: 25 (including 6 women and 1 child)
- Makran Coastal Highway Crash:
- 12 dead (pilgrims)
- Kahuta-Rawalpindi Crash:
- Official Responses:
- Interior Ministry: Reports varying death tolls; 29 deaths reported for both crashes.
- Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif: Expressed deep sorrow, called for immediate medical aid.
- President Asif Ali Zardari: Conveyed condolences, emphasized speeding up relief efforts.
- Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz: Expressed sadness, prayed for the deceased.
- Speaker National Assembly Sardar Ayaz Sadiq: Offered condolences, called for immediate medical aid.
- Recent Related Incident:
- Iran Bus Crash: 28 Pakistani pilgrims killed, 23 injured.
