At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured after a passenger bus travelling from Quetta to Peshawar plunged into a ravine in the Dana Sar area between Zhob and Dera Ismail Khan on Friday, local authorities said.
District officials said the bus veered off the road in the mountainous Dana Sar region, resulting in one of the deadliest road accidents in the area in recent years.
Shahid Rind, spokesperson for the Balochistan chief minister, said the death toll had risen to 40, while eight injured passengers had been shifted to hospital for treatment.
He said district authorities, rescue agencies and other relevant departments were continuing relief operations and providing medical assistance to the injured.
According to preliminary information, the bus was carrying not only its own passengers but also passengers from another bus that had broken down earlier during the journey, Rind said.
Deputy Commissioner Sherani Wali Kakar said rescue teams had faced difficulties reaching the crash site because of the rugged terrain but continued evacuation and recovery efforts.
Health authorities declared an emergency at nearby hospitals in Balochistan to ensure prompt treatment for those injured in the accident.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the tragedy on the Zhob-Sherani Highway and directed the relevant authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical care.
