12 dead, 42 injured in multiple road accidents across Balochistan

QUETTA: At least 12 people were killed and 42 others injured in a series of road accidents across Balochistan on Saturday, highlighting the growing dangers on the province’s highways.

The deadliest crash occurred on the CPEC Road near Zama Zama Hotel in Panjgur, where a passenger bus and an oil-laden Zamyad truck collided and caught fire. Eight people, including six passengers from Khuzdar and two brothers in the truck from Zandain Daz, Panjgur, were burnt to death. A motorcyclist passing by was also injured. Rescue teams took nearly four hours to douse the blaze. The bodies were shifted to Government Teaching Hospital Panjgur, where an emergency was declared.

In Lasbela, a man was injured after being hit by a speeding passenger bus on the National Highway near Bela Welpat Mai Pir Cross.

On the Makran Coastal Highway near Lyari, more than 15 Hindu pilgrims traveling from Karachi to the Hinglaj Nani Mandir were injured when their coach overturned due to over-speeding. Women and children were among the injured, who were initially treated at District Headquarters Hospital Uthal before the critically injured were referred to Karachi.

Near Khanozai, four people were killed and 25 others injured when a passenger coach en route from Quetta to Islamabad overturned due to reckless driving. The dead and injured were shifted to Khanozai Hospital, while five critically injured passengers were referred to Quetta’s Trauma Center for specialized care. Authorities said most of the incidents were caused by reckless driving and over-speeding, and urged stricter enforcement of traffic rules to prevent further tragedies on Balochistan’s highways. Public circles, however, called for urgent improvements to road infrastructure, pointing out that the absence of dual carriageways across the province is a major factor behind the frequent accidents.