At least 40 people were killed and eight others injured after an overcrowded passenger bus veered off a highway and plunged into a rocky ravine in southwestern Pakistan early Friday, authorities said. The accident is among the country's deadliest road crashes in recent years.

According to the Medical Emergency Response Centre (MERC), rescue teams recovered 40 bodies from the accident site, while the injured were rushed to the Trauma Centre in Zhob for medical treatment. Several of the injured are reported to be in critical condition.

A massive rescue operation was launched immediately after the crash. Emergency authorities deployed six ambulances, 12 emergency medical technicians (EMTs) and 10 light transport vehicles to the remote accident site to assist in rescue and recovery efforts.

District officials, local rescue agencies and ambulance services coordinated the operation, while emergency personnel from the neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province also joined the rescue mission due to the scale of the tragedy.

Sherani Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar said rescue workers spent several hours retrieving victims from the deep ravine and evacuating the injured. The difficult terrain slowed rescue operations, requiring coordinated efforts from multiple emergency teams.

Preliminary information indicates that the bus had initially departed from Quetta carrying around 36 passengers. However, officials said the vehicle later became overcrowded after picking up additional passengers from another bus that had reportedly broken down along the route.

Authorities have not yet confirmed the exact cause of the accident. Investigators are examining whether overloading, speeding, driver error or mechanical failure contributed to the crash. A detailed probe has been ordered, officials said.

Road accidents remain a major safety concern in Pakistan, particularly on mountainous highways where poor road conditions, overloaded vehicles and inadequate enforcement of traffic regulations often increase the risk of fatal crashes. Several serious bus accidents have been reported across the country in recent years, prompting repeated calls for stricter road safety measures.

The latest tragedy has once again highlighted concerns over passenger safety and enforcement of transport regulations. Officials said further details will emerge as the investigation progresses.

Jaffar Express derails in suspected suicide attack near Chaman Gate; security forces cordon off area

At least 30 people were confirmed dead and more than 70 others injured after a powerful explosion hit the Jaffar Express near the Chaman Gate on the outskirts of Quetta city in Pakistan's Balochistan province late on Sunday.

Officials confirmed the blast was a suicide attack targeting the railway track. The explosion was so intense that it derailed several coaches of the passenger train, which was on its way to Quetta Cantt at the time. Visuals from the site show overturned bogies and a fire burning near the tracks, with thick smoke rising into the evening sky.

Casualties Mount

Rescue teams and police rushed to the scene shortly after the blast. “The death toll has risen to 30, and more than 70 injured have been shifted to Civil Hospital Quetta,” a local official said, adding that several among the injured were in critical condition. The blast also shattered window panes of nearby buildings, officials added.

Fire brigade units managed to douse the flames that had engulfed the tracks. A relief and rescue operation is currently underway, though authorities have appealed to the public not to crowd the site to allow teams to work freely.

Scene of the Blast

The explosion occurred near a sensitive security zone. Initial reports indicate the train was moving at a normal speed when the blast derailed the engine and at least four bogies. Footage circulating on social media shows passengers in a state of panic, with some climbing out of the wreckage.

Security agencies have cordoned off the entire area. “All security agencies have been put on high alert. We are investigating the nature of the explosive used,” said Babar Yusufzai, special assistant to the Balochistan government for home affairs.

No Immediate Claim

No organisation has claimed responsibility for the attack so far. However, security officials are treating it as a planned terrorist strike. The Jaffar Express, a flagship long-distance train of Pakistan Railways, connects Quetta to other major cities but passes through several volatile areas where militant groups are known to be active.

A History of Violence

This is not the first time the Jaffar Express has been targeted. The train runs through regions where the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) has a strong presence. Last year, the BLA had hijacked the same train, claiming to have taken over 200 passengers hostage.

The BLA, which seeks independence from the Pakistani government, has grown in influence since the 1970s. The group opposes what it calls the forced exploitation of Balochistan’s resources by the state and Chinese interests. Pakistan listed the BLA as a terrorist organisation in 2007.

Pakistan’s Terror Surge

The attack comes at a time when Pakistan ranks second on the Global Terrorism Index 2025, behind only Burkina Faso. According to the report, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan account for 90% of all terror incidents in the country, with attacks by the Baloch Army rising by 60% in the past year. The Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) saw a 90% increase in attacks during the same period.

Authorities in Quetta said an investigation into Sunday’s blast is ongoing, with forensic teams collecting evidence from the railway track.