A passenger bus traveling on the Makran coastal highway in Balochistan lost control and plunged into a deep ravine on Tuesday, killing at least 40 people and injuring dozens more, according to local officials and rescue teams.
The vehicle, reportedly carrying over 70 passengers, was headed north from the port city of Gwadar toward Turbat when it veered off the narrow mountain road and fell into a ditch near the village of Jiwani. Emergency services and police arrived within hours, pulling survivors from the wreckage and transporting the injured to nearby hospitals in Turbat and Gwadar.
Initial reports from the Balochistan provincial disaster management authority indicated that the bus “lost control” on a sharp bend and “plummeted into a deep ravine,” a description echoed by police statements released to the media. The exact cause of the loss of control has not been determined, but authorities said the road’s condition and the vehicle’s speed were under investigation.
Rescue crews faced challenging terrain, and heavy rescue equipment was deployed to extract bodies and provide first aid. Some victims were pulled from the wreckage still strapped to their seats, while others were recovered from the water that had collected at the bottom of the ravine.
Local hospitals reported that more than 30 of the injured were in serious condition, requiring intensive care. The provincial health department has dispatched additional medical teams to support the overwhelmed facilities.
The tragedy has prompted calls for a review of road safety standards on the Makran highway, a key trade route that has seen a rise in traffic due to the China‑Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects. Transport officials have previously warned that many sections of the highway are vulnerable to landslides and lack adequate guardrails.
Analysis:
The high casualty count underscores longstanding concerns about road safety in remote regions of Pakistan, where enforcement of vehicle maintenance standards and driver training is often lax. The Makran coastal highway, while vital for regional commerce, traverses rugged terrain with limited safety infrastructure. If the bus was indeed traveling at high speed on a narrow, poorly maintained stretch, the accident could reflect systemic neglect rather than an isolated driver error.
The incident also highlights the strain on emergency response capabilities in Balochistan. Rescue operations were hampered by the remote location and difficult access, prolonging the time needed to reach victims. Strengthening local disaster response units and improving road signage could mitigate the impact of similar accidents in the future.
Authorities have not yet released the names of the deceased, and families are being notified. A full investigative report is expected from the provincial police and transport department in the coming weeks.
Sources
Times of India – “Pakistan bus tragedy: 40 killed after bus loses control and plunges into ravine,” https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/pakistan/pakistan-bus-tragedy-40-killed-after-bus-loses-control-and-plummets-into-ravine/articleshow/132155079.cms
Story synopsis gathered from: Times of India – Top Stories — source
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