A passenger bus plunged off a highway into a deep ravine in southwestern Pakistan early Friday, killing at least 40 people, according to local authorities. The accident occurred in the remote Dana Sar area, near the border between Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, as the bus was travelling from Quetta to Peshawar. Balochistan government spokesperson Shahid Rind said the speeding vehicle lost control and fell approximately 21 to 24 metres (70 to 80 feet) into the rocky gorge.

The bus was carrying not only its own passengers but also travellers from another coach that had broken down, leaving it overcrowded, Rind told the Associated Press. Emergency services chief Sanaullah Sherani of Zhob district confirmed 40 fatalities and said 11 others were injured, while a government official at Zhob Hospital told the BBC that 32 people had died and 16 were wounded, with a total of 48 on board. Rescue teams faced difficult mountainous terrain as they worked to recover bodies and transport the injured to hospital.

Conflicting casualty figures emerged in the hours after the crash. The Balochistan government’s initial statement cited 40 dead and eight injured, while some local media reported 24 fatalities. The cause of the crash remains under investigation, but preliminary reports cited by the BBC suggest a possible steering fault. President Asif Ali Zardari and Balochistan Chief Minister Sarfraz Bugti expressed condolences and ordered an inquiry, with Bugti directing that the injured receive the best possible medical care.

Fatal road accidents are frequent in Pakistan, where poor road conditions, lax enforcement of traffic laws and unsafe driving practices are common, particularly in mountainous regions. In May, a minibus collided with a stationary bus in the northwest, killing 17 people. The latest crash has again drawn attention to the hazards of Pakistan’s intercity bus network, though authorities have not yet indicated whether any immediate safety measures will be taken.