Tragedy struck southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province on Sunday, as a collision between a passenger bus, an oil tanker, and a motorbike claimed the lives of at least 21 individuals, with 38 more sustaining injuries. Mohammad Qasim Riyaz, spokesperson for the provincial governor, provided the grim update, highlighting the severity of the incident.
The collision, occurring in the early hours of the morning, resulted in a devastating inferno, engulfing the vehicles involved. Images shared by the Helmand information department on social media depicted a scene of horror, with charred wreckage and the twisted remains of the tanker’s cabin bearing witness to the catastrophic collision.
The accident unfolded on a vital artery linking Kabul, the nation’s capital, to the northern city of Herat, specifically in the Grishk district of Helmand province. This key highway, traversing through the heart of Afghanistan, serves as a lifeline for transportation and commerce but has also witnessed numerous tragic accidents.
The incident underscores the persistent dangers plaguing road travel in Afghanistan, stemming from a combination of factors including inadequate road infrastructure, reckless driving habits, and a lack of stringent regulatory enforcement.
Sadly, fatal traffic accidents are all too frequent in Afghanistan, further exacerbating the hardships faced by its populace. In a grim parallel, just months prior in December 2022, another tragic accident unfolded in the high-altitude Salang pass, where an overturned oil tanker erupted in flames, claiming the lives of 31 individuals and inflicting severe burn injuries upon many others. Such incidents are stark reminders of the perils of navigating the country’s challenging terrain and precarious roadways.
