KP Bus Plunge Kills Dozens Near Danasar as Rescue Continues
A major road tragedy was reported on Friday after a passenger bus travelling from Quetta to Peshawar plunged into a deep ravine in the Danasar area near the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Balochistan border, leaving dozens of people dead and several others injured.
According to the initial report, 24 passengers lost their lives and 10 others were injured in the crash. Local officials, however, also indicated that rescue work was still under way, meaning casualty figures could be revised as teams continue to recover victims from the difficult mountainous terrain.
Sherani Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Khan Kakar confirmed that at least 20 people had died and 10 others were injured in the accident. He said emergency teams, ambulances and district administration officials were sent to the site immediately after receiving information about the crash.
Officials said the bus fell into a deep gorge in the Danasar mountainous belt, a difficult stretch located near the meeting point of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The route is widely used by long-distance passenger coaches moving between Quetta, Zhob, Dera Ismail Khan and Peshawar.
Rescue workers faced serious challenges because of the terrain, the depth of the ravine and limited access for emergency vehicles. The dead and injured were shifted to nearby medical facilities, while teams continued efforts to evacuate remaining passengers and retrieve bodies from the wreckage.
The deputy commissioner said relief operations were continuing at the scene and that rescue personnel were working to provide urgent assistance despite the difficult conditions. The injured were being given emergency treatment, while authorities were expected to identify the deceased and inform their families.
The accident has again raised serious concerns over the safety of Pakistan’s inter-provincial transport system, particularly on mountainous highways where sharp bends, steep slopes, weak road protections and vehicle fitness issues can turn routine travel into a fatal journey.
Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have repeatedly witnessed deadly bus and coach accidents on long-distance routes. Transport experts and local communities have often called for stricter vehicle inspections, better driver regulation, functional braking systems, speed monitoring and safer road engineering in high-risk areas.
For families using these routes, the crash is not only a transport disaster but also a reminder of the everyday risks faced by passengers who depend on buses for affordable travel between provinces. Many passengers on such routes are workers, students, traders and families travelling across long distances with limited transport alternatives.
The immediate next steps will include completing rescue operations, confirming the final death toll, treating the injured and determining the cause of the crash. Authorities are expected to examine whether mechanical failure, road conditions, speeding or driver error contributed to the tragedy.