At least 40 dead in two tragic road accidents in Pakistan

KARACHI — At least 40 people were killed and dozens more injured in two road accidents in southwest and northwest Pakistan on Sunday, according to police and local media reports.

In the first incident, around 29 passengers lost their lives when a vehicle plunged into a ravine near Rawlakot in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, about 80 kilometres from Islamabad.

Local broadcaster Geo News reported on the fatalities, citing rescue workers. Commissioner Rawlakot Abdul Hameed Khan confirmed that 21 people were killed in the accident.

Local television stations broadcast footage of the wrecked bus lying on rocks further down the hill as locals gathered at the scene of the accident.

In another accident, 11 Shiite pilgrims were killed and over 30 injured when a bus plunged into a ravine in Lasbella district of Balochistan province, bordering Iran. The victims were from the northeastern Punjab province and were on their way to Iran.

Initial investigations assume that the accident was due to brake failure.

This tragedy comes on the heels of another incident in which 28 Pakistani pilgrims were killed and 23 injured in a bus accident in the Iranian city of Yazd on Wednesday.

Road accidents are common in Pakistan, largely due to inadequate safety standards. — Agencies