40 Killed as Bus Plunges Into Ravine in Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Peshawar, Jul 3: At least 40 people, including women and children, were killed after a passenger bus plunged into a ravine in Pakistan’s northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province on Friday, officials said.

The accident occurred after the Peshawar-bound bus entered Dera Ismail Khan district in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa after crossing Sherani district in neighbouring Balochistan.

Officials said eight passengers were rescued from the accident site and shifted to a hospital for treatment.

Preliminary reports suggest the bus suffered brake failure and skidded off the road while negotiating a sharp bend in the mountainous terrain. However, authorities have launched an investigation to ascertain the exact cause of the crash.

Road accidents are frequent in the mountainous regions of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa due to hazardous roads, difficult terrain, adverse weather conditions and traffic violations, often resulting in heavy casualties. (Agencies)