Seven individuals lost their lives, and 19 others sustained injuries after a bus plunged into a ravine near Quetta’s Brewery Roads Bypass on Thursday, officials confirmed.
Dr. Waseem Baig, a spokesperson for the health department, reported that the accident claimed the lives of three children and a woman among the seven deceased. Nineteen people were also injured.
Saddar Superintendent of Police (SP) Shaukat Mohmand explained to Dawn.com that the bus, carrying wedding attendees, was en route from Khilji Colony Bypass to Baleli when one of its tires burst, causing the vehicle to veer into a ravine near Brewery Roads Bypass.
SP Mohmand further added that the deceased and injured were transported to Bolan Medical Complex after receiving initial first aid at the site.
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed sorrow over the accident, describing the loss of lives as deeply tragic. In a statement from his office, he called for an investigation, assuring that officials would be held accountable if any negligence was found.
According to government spokesperson Shahid Rind, medical assistance was promptly provided to the injured, with those in critical condition being moved to Combined Military Hospital Quetta. Provincial health minister Bakht Muhammad Kakar also declared an emergency in hospitals to ensure the injured received the best care.
Former MPA Bushra Rind also expressed her condolences over the “tragic incident,” highlighting that the government had taken swift measures to assist the victims.
