At least fifteen people were killed when a truck plunged into a ravine on the Swat Expressway in Malakand, Rescue officials confirmed on Thursday.
According to reports, the vehicle was carrying a group of nomads travelling from Bahrain, Swat, when it veered off the road and fell into the deep ravine. Eight people were also injured in the tragic incident and were shifted to a nearby hospital for medical treatment.
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Fayaz stated that most of the deceased were children, adding that the local administration had immediately launched a rescue operation following the accident.
The heartbreaking incident has once again drawn attention to Pakistan’s persistent road safety crisis. Fatal accidents continue to occur frequently across the country due to poor infrastructure, reckless driving, speeding, and overloading of vehicles.
Earlier this month, seven nomads — including six members of the same family — were killed and six others injured when a high-speed truck ran over workers sleeping on the roadside near Kuddan Hotel in Shikarpur.
According to police reports, the truck, which was loaded with vegetables, first collided with an electric pole before losing control and crashing into the nomads’ roadside camp. Seven people were killed on the spot, while six others sustained serious injuries. Initial investigations suggested speeding as the main cause of the tragedy.
The Swat crash follows two similar road accidents in Balochistan earlier this month, which collectively claimed at least 13 lives, including women and children. In Lasbela’s Uthal area, six people were killed and 17 others injured when a passenger coach rammed into a truck near Zero Point. In another incident near Hub-Winder, seven people died and 16 others were injured when a coach overturned.
Road fatalities remain alarmingly high in Pakistan, where enforcement of traffic laws and road maintenance remain major challenges.
