Tragedy in Pakistan: 29 dead after bus from Kahuta to Rawalpindi falls into ditch; Second major crash of day

A devastating bus accident in Pakistan's Punjab province on Sunday has resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people, according to local media reports. The passenger bus, which was carrying 30 people, was traveling from Haveli Kahuta to Rawalpindi when it plunged into a ditch near Pana Bridge.

The cause of the accident, which occurred in a mountainous region, remains unclear, according to sources quoted by Geo News. Local residents immediately began the grim task of retrieving bodies from the wreckage, while police and rescue teams rushed to the scene. Kahuta, where the incident occurred, is a tehsil in the Rawalpindi district, located about an hour from the city.

Failed Brakes Cited as Cause

Dawn News later reported that the accident was likely caused by the bus's brakes failing. The vehicle was travelling through difficult, hilly terrain when tragedy struck, leading to the catastrophic plunge.

صدر مملکت آصف علی زرداری کا کہوٹہ کے قریب آزاد پتن بس حادثے میں قیمتی جانی نقصان پر گہرے دُکھ کا اظہار

صدر مملکت کا واقعے میں جاں بحق افراد کے لواحقین کے ساتھ اظہار تعزیت

دُکھ کی اس گھڑی میں میری ہمدردیاں جاں بحق افراد کے اہل خانہ کے ساتھ ہیں، صدر مملکت

صدر مملکت کا امدادی…

— PPP (@MediaCellPPP) August 25, 2024

Second Major Bus Accident in a Day

This tragedy comes just hours after another deadly bus accident in southwest Pakistan. A bus carrying Shiite Muslim pilgrims returning from Iraq via Iran plunged from a highway into a ravine, killing at least 12 people and injuring 32 others. The incident occurred on the Makran coastal highway in Baluchistan province after the driver lost control due to brake failure, according to local police chief Qazi Sabir.

Condolences from National Leaders

In the wake of these tragedies, Pakistan’s leaders have expressed their deep sorrow. President Asif Ali Zardari extended his sympathies to the grieving families, saying, "My sympathies are with the bereaved families in this hour of sorrow," in a statement shared by his party, PPP, on the X platform. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also expressed her grief, stating, "May Allah exalt the ranks of those who died in this tragedy and grant patience to their loved ones."

Frequent Bus Accidents in Pakistan

Bus accidents are tragically common in Pakistan, particularly on challenging mountainous routes. Just days before this incident, 35 Pakistani pilgrims were killed in a bus crash in neighboring Iran while en route to Iraq. The bodies of those victims were returned to Pakistan and buried in Sindh province.