9 passengers killed as bus overturns on Makran Coastal Highway
QUETTA: At least nine passengers were killed and several others injured on Saturday when a passenger bus overturned on the Makran Coastal Highway in Balochistan, police said.
According to Superintendent of Police (SP) Coastal Highway Aslam Bangulzai, the bus was travelling from Karachi to Jiwani when it met with the accident near the Hudd area. The driver reportedly lost control of the vehicle due to overspeeding, causing the bus to overturn.
SP Bangulzai said rescue operations were launched immediately with the assistance of security forces and Rescue 1122 teams. The injured passengers and bodies of the deceased were shifted to Ormara Hospital.
He added that several of the injured were in critical condition, raising fears that the death toll could rise.
Traffic on the Makran Coastal Highway remained suspended for several hours following the accident as rescue and relief activities continued at the site.
The Makran Coastal Highway (N-10), a key route connecting Karachi with Gwadar, has witnessed numerous fatal road accidents in recent years. Incidents involving bus overturns, collisions, brake failures and heavy transport crashes have repeatedly raised concerns over road safety on the highway.
According to official rescue data, hundreds of traffic accidents were reported on the Makran Coastal Highway in 2024 alone. Between January and December 2024, a total of 532 accidents occurred in the Lasbela and Gwadar regions, resulting in 43 fatalities and 855 injuries.
Authorities have once again urged transport operators to strictly follow traffic regulations and ensure vehicle fitness to prevent further loss of life on the busy coastal route.
