At least 32 people died overnight when an overcrowded passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in Pakistan's Dana Sar mountain range.

Emergency services recovered the bodies of 32 victims, with rescuers continuing to search the rugged terrain for survivors and additional casualties early on Friday. The scale of the disaster quickly overwhelmed local medical facilities.

The passenger bus was travelling from Quetta, the provincial capital of Balochistan, towards Peshawar when it lost control on a winding section of road. It then plummeted several hundred feet into the gorge in the Dana Sar area of the Kohistan district.

Rescue teams, including police, military personnel, and volunteers, faced significant challenges navigating the steep, treacherous terrain in the darkness. They used ropes and specialized equipment to reach the wreckage, which lay mangled at the bottom of the ravine.

Many of the victims were trapped inside the mangled vehicle. Witnesses described a chaotic scene as emergency workers attempted to extricate bodies and provide first aid to the few survivors who could be reached.

Rescue Efforts Intensify

Local authorities confirmed the death toll, stating that the bus carried far more passengers than its official capacity. Initial reports suggested overcrowding contributed to the driver's loss of control on the difficult mountain pass.

Police Superintendent Hassan Askari told reporters on Friday morning that the investigation into the exact cause of the accident had begun. He said authorities were interviewing witnesses and examining the condition of the road and the vehicle.

pakistan bus crash rescue efforts ravine

Hospitals in nearby towns activated emergency protocols to cope with the influx of casualties. Doctors Without Borders, which has a presence in the region, offered assistance to local health authorities.

A Recurring Tragedy on Pakistan's Roads

This incident marks another deadly bus crash in Pakistan, where poor road infrastructure, lax safety regulations, and overloaded vehicles frequently lead to high casualty tolls. Accidents involving passenger buses are common, particularly on mountainous routes.

Just last year, a similar incident in Balochistan killed 20 people when a bus overturned on a highway. Government data shows that thousands die in road accidents across the country annually, making it one of the leading causes of unintentional death.

Despite repeated calls for stricter enforcement of safety standards and investment in road improvements, progress remains slow. Critics point to endemic corruption and a lack of political will to address the systemic issues contributing to these preventable tragedies.

The federal government announced a period of national mourning and pledged support for the victims' families. Senior officials will visit the crash site later on Friday to assess the situation and meet with rescue workers.