Islamabad: Two separate bus accidents in Pakistan on Sunday have resulted in the tragic loss of 37 lives and left dozens injured.
Shia pilgrims
In the first incident, a bus carrying Shia Muslim pilgrims returning from Iraq plunged into a ravine in the Lasbela district of Balochistan province. The accident, caused by a brake failure, claimed the lives of at least 12 people and injured 32 others. The victims were part of a religious pilgrimage to Karbala, Iraq.
Hundreds of thousands of Shia Muslims travel to Iraq’s Karbala city to commemorate the death anniversary of Prophet Muhammad’s grandson Hussein, a symbol of resistance to tyrannical rule during the tumultuous first century of Islam’s history.
The tragic accidents have prompted an outpouring of grief and sympathy in Pakistan.
Second accident
Just a few hours later, another bus accident occurred in the Kahuta district of Punjab province. A bus traveling from Kahuta to Rawalpindi veered off the Azad Pattan Road and fell into a ravine, resulting in the deaths of 25 people and critical injuries to one passenger.
The cause of this accident was also attributed to brake failure.
Outpouring of sympathy
The tragic accidents have sparked widespread grief and sympathy across Pakistan. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his condolences to the families of the victims and directed authorities to provide immediate medical aid to the injured. Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz also offered their condolences and emphasized the need for improved road safety measures to prevent such tragedies in the future.
Bus accident in Iran
Sunday's accidents follow a similar incident in neighboring Iran just days earlier, where a bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims overturned and caught fire, resulting in the deaths of 28 people. The bodies of these victims were recently returned to Pakistan and buried in the southern Sindh province.
A call for road safety
The recurring bus accidents in Pakistan highlight the urgent need for improved road safety measures. Authorities must take steps to address the underlying causes of these tragedies, such as inadequate road infrastructure, driver fatigue, and vehicle maintenance issues.