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.

A devastating Raisen bus accident claimed three lives and left at least 15 passengers injured after two buses collided head-on near the Sehatganj toll plaza under Kharbai police outpost limits. The incident took place around 11 am on the Bhopal–Sagar route, causing severe damage and panic among passengers.

Officials confirmed that one of the deceased suffered extremely severe injuries, while identification of one victim is still pending due to the condition of the bodies. Several injured passengers have been referred to Bhopal for advanced treatment.

Head-on Collision Impact

The Raisen bus accident involved two passenger buses travelling in opposite directions on the busy Bhopal–Sagar highway. According to officials, the collision was so intense that one bus suffered major structural damage while the other veered off the road after impact.

Eyewitnesses said both buses were moving at high speed when they failed to negotiate a turn near the toll plaza area, leading to a direct crash.

Casualties Confirmed

Authorities have confirmed three deaths in the Raisen bus accident. Two victims have been identified as Nitish Vyas (28), a resident of Panda Tekapar in Sultanpur, and Makhan Lodhi (29), from Pachipura in Begumganj. One body remains unidentified.

At least 15 passengers sustained serious injuries, including fractures and head trauma. Several victims have been shifted to hospitals in Bhopal due to the severity of their condition.

Eyewitness Accounts

Eyewitnesses described the Raisen bus accident as extremely violent. Locals said the impact was so strong that passengers sitting near windows suffered severe facial and head injuries.

One witness said both buses appeared to be speeding and lost control while approaching a bend. The collision led to chaos, with passengers thrown off seats due to the sudden impact.

Emergency Response

Police and district officials reached the spot soon after the Raisen bus accident was reported. Rescue teams shifted the injured to nearby hospitals before referring critical cases to Bhopal.

Raisen Collector Arun Kumar Vishwakarma and Superintendent of Police Ashutosh Gupta also visited the site and reviewed the situation. Traffic movement on one lane of the highway was temporarily halted due to the damaged vehicles.

Possible Causes

Preliminary observations suggest that over-speeding and failure to negotiate the curve may have contributed to the Raisen bus accident. Officials are also examining whether driver negligence played a role.

Investigators are reviewing route conditions, vehicle speed, and mechanical status of both buses. A detailed report will be prepared after collecting statements from survivors and drivers.

Passenger Accounts

Several passengers said the journey was normal until a sudden jolt threw people off balance. One survivor stated that both buses were carrying around 30–35 passengers each at the time of the crash.

Many passengers sustained injuries after being thrown against seats and window panels. Drivers of both buses also suffered injuries in the impact.

Investigation Underway

Authorities have initiated a formal inquiry into the Raisen bus accident. Police teams are collecting evidence from the crash site, including vehicle damage patterns and road conditions.

Officials have indicated that action will be taken based on findings related to speed violations or negligence, if established during the probe.

Bus Overturns in Janjgir-Champa, 14 Passengers Injured Including Women and Children A speeding bus travelling from Korba to Saraipali lost control in Chhattisgarh's Janjgir-Champa district Sunday morning, leaving over a dozen injured

Accident in Karnaoud Village

A passenger bus overturned on the roadside in Karnaoud village, Janjgir-Champa district of Chhattisgarh on Sunday morning, injuring 14 people. The incident, which took place around 8:30 AM in the Birra police station area, sent local residents scrambling to pull passengers out through broken windows.

The Rajdhani bus, operating on the Korba–Saraipali route, was carrying more than 50 passengers at the time — several of them standing in the aisle. The sheer overcrowding worsened the situation when the vehicle lost control.

How the Accident Unfolded

According to a young passenger who was on board, the bus was travelling at roughly 65 km/h when the driver attempted to cut past an oncoming bus coming from the Birra side. The manoeuvre went wrong. The vehicle ran on three wheels for nearly 50 metres before tipping over onto the roadside.

Locals broke through the glass to pull injured passengers out. Police from Birra station arrived shortly after and coordinated ambulance services to the scene.

Women and Children Among the Hurt

CSP Yogita Bali Khaparde confirmed that 14 people sustained injuries in the crash — 9 women, 3 children, and 2 men. Ten of them were admitted to the Community Health Centre (CHC) at Bamhnidih. Three others, who suffered more serious injuries, were referred to the District Hospital in Janjgir, where treatment is ongoing. The remaining passengers escaped without injury.

Driver Flees the Scene

Notably, the bus driver fled the spot immediately after the accident. Police have launched a search and confirmed that action will be taken against him as per the law. Preliminary investigation points clearly to rash and negligent driving as the cause of the crash.

What Officials Said

"Initial findings indicate driver negligence. Overspeeding and careless driving led to this accident," CSP Khaparde said. She added that the injured are receiving medical attention and the investigation is underway.

Twin Tragedies in Chhattisgarh: 10 Dead, 41 Injured in Separate Bus Accidents on Same Day

In a heartbreaking sequence of events, the state of Chhattisgarh witnessed two major road accidents within hours, leaving at least 10 people dead and 41 others injured. The incidents occurred in the districts of Jashpur and Bhatapara on [Current Date], sending shockwaves through the region.

The first Chhattisgarh bus accident took place in the Tapkara police station area of Jashpur, where a passenger bus lost control and plowed into an under-construction building. The second fatal crash occurred on a national highway in Bhatapara, where a speeding truck collided head-on with a bus. Among the deceased are women, children, and elderly passengers.

Here is a detailed breakdown of the two tragic incidents.

Jashpur Bus Accident: Bus Plows into Under-Construction Building, 5 Dead

The first tragedy struck in the Tapkara region of Jashpur district. According to police officials, a bus traveling from KURDEG in Jharkhand to Kunkuri in Chhattisgarh was carrying approximately 25 passengers.

Near the Godaamba village, the driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle due to excessive speed. The Jashpur bus accident occurred when the vehicle veered off the road and crashed into an under-construction home before overturning.

- The Rescue Operation: The impact caused several passengers to become trapped inside the wreckage, leading to panic at the scene. Local villagers rushed to the site and, with the help of police, managed to pull the injured from the bus.

- Casualties: Sadly, five people lost their lives in this accident, including a child.

- Injuries: Over 25 injured passengers were rushed to the community health center in Kunkuri for treatment.

Police have registered a case and are investigating the exact cause of the crash.

Bhatapara Road Accident: Truck Collides with Bus on Highway, 5 Dead

In a separate and equally devastating incident, a Bhatapara road accident claimed the lives of five more individuals. The collision occurred near Darchura village under the Simga police station limit in Balodabazar district.

The bus, belonging to RBS company, was traveling from Raipur to Bilaspur. When it reached the national highway stretch near Darchura, a speeding truck crashed into it with tremendous force.

- Impact of the Crash: The collision was so severe that it resulted in the immediate death of four people. Later reports confirmed the toll had risen to five. The deceased include three women, an elderly person, and a child.

- Injuries and Treatment: As many as 29 passengers were injured in the bus and truck collision. While 12 of the critically injured were referred to the Mekahara hospital in Raipur for advanced treatment, the remaining 17 are receiving care at the Simga hospital.

- Ongoing Efforts: Simga police immediately reached the spot after receiving the information and launched a major relief and rescue operation. It is reported that the bus was carrying more than 35 passengers at the time of the accident.

---

 Previous Road Accident in Balod

These incidents highlight a grim trend of road accidents in the state. In a similar tragic event recently, a watchman working with the forest department was killed in Balod. A speeding 14-wheeler truck ran over his moped and dragged it for nearly 50 meters, scattering body parts on the road. The victim was returning after collecting herbs when the accident occurred.

 Conclusion: A Call for Road Safety

The twin bus accidents in Jashpur and Bhatapara serve as a grim reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for stricter road safety measures. As families mourn the loss of their loved ones, authorities are under pressure to ensure better traffic management and enforcement of speed limits on the national highways and rural roads of Chhattisgarh. The administration has announced relief measures for the victims' families as investigations into both incidents continue.