At least 22 passengers killed as passenger van falls into ditch in Qilla Saifullah district of Balochistan

QILLA SAIFULLAH,  June 08 (SABAH): At least 22 passengers were killed and a child was injured when a passenger van traveling on the Zhob National Highway in Balochistan plunged hundreds of feet into a ravine near Killa Saifullah on Wednesday.

The ill-fated van, with approximately 23 people on board, had left Loralai for Zhob, the district’s deputy commissioner, Hafiz Muhammad Qasim told media. “The vehicle fell from a hilltop near Akhtarzai and 22 travelers aboard were reportedly killed in the accident,” he said.

Akhtarzai is a tribal area located at an elevation of 1,572 metres in Zhob.

Rescue 1122 officials said that a minor boy was injured in the accident and was referred to Quetta for medical treatment.

The bodies of all the deceased passengers, they added, have been shifted to the Killa Saifullah District Headquarters Hospital. The deceased included five children, five women, and 11 men.

The DC said that an emergency had been imposed at hospitals located in the area, and said teams from Quetta had been called in for the rescue operation, which ended at around 1:00 PM.

Immediately after the accident was reported, condolences started pouring in.

Meanwhile President Dr. Arif Alvi has expressed grief over the loss of precious lives in a traffic incident in Qilla Saifullah. President Alvi prayed for the higher status in heaven for the departed souls. He also expressed sympathies with the bereaved families. President also prayed for the early recovery of the injured persons in the accident. President also directed for provision of the best medical facilities to the injured persons. The President also stressed need for adopting measures to avoid such incidents in future.

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has also expressed grief over the incident. In a tweet, the Pakistan Peoples Party media cell said that the party chairman has extended sympathies to the bereaved families. Bilawal Bhutto further called on authorities to take adequate steps to avoid such accidents in the future.

Meanwhile Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Qudoos Bizenjo extended his condolences to the deceased and their families. He also instructed the authorities to provide the best medical treatment to the injured child.