The death toll from a passenger bus accident in the Dhana Sar area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has reached 40, Sherani Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar said, as rescue teams continue efforts to retrieve victims and assist the injured.
At least eight injured passengers have so far been shifted to hospital, while rescue personnel remain engaged in operations to pull out the injured and victims from a deep ravine.
According to Deputy Commissioner Kakar, the passenger bus fell into a deep gorge in the difficult mountainous Dhana Sar area, located near the junction of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
He said several passengers were killed and injured in the accident, prompting an immediate response from the district administration, rescue agencies and relief teams.
According to Sherani Assistant Commissioner Habib Nasir, the passenger bus was travelling from Balochistan to Peshawar with 48 passengers on board.
He said 40 passengers were killed and eight others injured, adding that the injured were being shifted to nearby hospitals, where an emergency has been declared.
Zhob District Police Officer Saboor Agha said the bodies of four women and seven men had been shifted to the hospital, adding that more bodies and injured passengers were being transported to hospitals.
The DPO clarified that rumours circulating that the vehicle was carrying Iranian oil were false.
Rescue operation continues
Rescue teams and ambulances of the Sherani district administration reached the scene shortly after receiving information about the accident.
Kakar said rescue personnel are carrying out operations to evacuate the injured, retrieve victims from the ravine and provide urgent relief despite the difficult and mountainous terrain.
He added that rescue operations are continuing rapidly to finally determine the total number of dead and injured.
The DC said the injured are being provided immediate medical assistance and shifted to nearby hospitals for timely treatment. So far, eight injured people have been moved to hospital, while teams are continuing efforts to reach others affected by the crash.
Administration monitoring situation
Kakar said the district administration is continuously monitoring the situation and all relevant institutions have been mobilized.
He added that necessary instructions have been issued to ensure full cooperation in rescue activities, while all available resources are being utilized to provide timely assistance to the victims.
President Asif Ali Zardari grieves loss
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep sorrow and grief over the passenger bus accident in Zhob. He prayed for the forgiveness of those who lost their lives and extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families.
The president also prayed for the speedy and complete recovery of the injured. He directed the relevant authorities to ensure the injured receive the best possible medical treatment.
"The entire nation shares the grief of the affected families over this tragic incident," the President said.
Abdul Aleem Khan extends condolences
Federal Minister for Communications Abdul Aleem Khan expressed profound sorrow over the tragic bus accident. He extended his condolences to the families of the deceased and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
"The entire nation is saddened by the loss of precious human lives," he said. "I share the grief of the affected families during this difficult time."
Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti
Chief Minister Sarfaraz Bugti expressed deep grief over the passenger bus accident. He offered condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.
The CM directed the relevant departments to expedite rescue and relief operations and ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured. He also ordered that all possible assistance be provided to the affected families.
"The government of Balochistan stands with the affected families in this difficult time," he said.
The chief minister's adviser, Shahid Rind, said the administrations of the relevant districts were contacted immediately on the chief minister's instructions as soon as news of the accident was received. Rescue and relief operations were launched without delay, he added.
The district administrations and rescue agencies of both Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are jointly carrying out relief operations, he said, adding that immediate medical assistance is being provided to the injured, and efforts are underway to shift them to hospitals.
Rind said that according to initial reports, the bus was carrying more passengers than its normal capacity, as passengers from another bus that had broken down were also travelling in the vehicle involved in the accident.
He said the district administration and relevant officials have launched a detailed investigation into the cause of the accident, while efforts were underway to identify the deceased and ensure proper treatment for the injured.
"The facts surrounding the accident will be made public once the investigation is complete," Shahid Rind said.
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