At least 40 killed as passenger bus plunges into ravine in Danasar near Balochistan-KP border 

Quetta (Web Desk): At least 40 people died and eight others were injured after a passenger bus travelling from Quetta to Peshawar veered off the Sherani–Zhob highway and plunged into a deep ravine in the Danasar area near the Balochistan–Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) border on Friday.

The Medical Emergency Response Centre (MERC) confirmed that rescue workers recovered 40 bodies from the scene, while the injured were transported to the Trauma Centre in Zhob for treatment.

As soon as news of the accident reached officials, the Sherani district administration dispatched rescue teams and ambulances to the site. Emergency responders from neighbouring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also joined the operation to assist in search and recovery efforts.

According to Sherani Deputy Commissioner Hazrat Wali Kakar, rescue personnel were continuing to evacuate the injured to nearby medical facilities while simultaneously recovering and transporting the bodies of those killed in the crash.

He further revealed that although the coach had initially departed Quetta with 36 passengers, more people boarded during the journey after another passenger bus developed a fault, increasing the number of travellers on board.

In response to the disaster, authorities declared an emergency at hospitals in Sherani and Dera Ismail Khan to ensure immediate medical care for those injured.

The rescue operation is being carried out jointly by Rescue 1122, the Frontier Corps (FC), police, the district administration and other concerned agencies.

Authorities have also opened an investigation to establish the exact circumstances and cause of the fatal accident.

Ina a separate statement issued by KP Rescue 1122, the passenger coach was carrying 48 people when it plunged into a deep ravine.

The statement said rescue personnel from Zhob emergency services and Rescue 1122 rushed to the accident site immediately after being alerted.

It added that the eight people who survived with injuries were transported to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital in Zhob for treatment. Meanwhile, the victims' bodies were first moved to a nearby rural health centre before being transferred to Zhob DHQ Hospital.

Rescue officials said search and recovery operations were still underway.