40 killed in Pakistan road accidents

By Aamir Latif

KARACHI, Pakistan (AA) – At least 40 people were killed and dozens others injured in two road accidents in southwest and northwest Pakistan on Sunday, police and local media reported.

Some 29 passengers were killed when a passenger vehicle fell into a ravine near Rawlakot in Pakistan-administered Kashmir, about 80 kilometers (50 miles) from the capital Islamabad, local broadcaster Geo News reported, citing rescue officials.

Commissioner Rawlakot Abdul Hameed Khan confirmed that 21 people were killed in the road mishap.

Local TV channels showed footage of the badly damaged bus lying on rocks downhill as locals gathered at the scene.

In another accident, 11 Shia pilgrims were killed and over 30 injured when a bus fell into a ravine in southwest Pakistan on Sunday morning, police said.

The accident occurred in the Lasbella district of Balochistan province, which borders Iran.

Victims from the northeastern Punjab province were on their way to Iran.

The initial investigation suggested that the accident was caused by a failure of the brakes.

The incident took place days after 28 Pakistani pilgrims were killed and 23 injured in a bus crash in the Iranian city of Yazd on Wednesday.

Road accidents in Pakistan are common, owing primarily to inadequate safety standards.