24 killed, 66 injured in bus crash near Chakwal

Most of the passengers were from Tableeghi Jamaat members returning from their Raiwind congregation

CHAKWAL: At least 24 people were killed and another 66 injured after a passenger bus careened off a bridge and fell into a gorge in Dhook Pathan near Punjab’s Chakwal division, on Wednesday evening.

According to Express News, the accident took place was caused by brake failure.

Rescue teams arrived at the scene of the accident and shifted the injured and bodies to a local hospital. With some of the injured in critical condition, the death toll was anticipated to rise.

The passenger bus was going from Raiwind to Kohat with more than 90 people on board. Most of the passengers were members of Tableeghi Jamaat and were returning home after attending their annual congregation there.



Punjab Chief Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and sought a report of the incident. He also ordered the authorities concerned to provide immediate medical treatment and relief to all those injured in the accident, according to Radio Pakistan.

Kallar Kahar is notorious for deadly road accidents. In September 2011, as many as 37 people, mostly children, were killed in a bus crash, while in April 2014, some 15 people were killed in another bus crash. Car accidents are also common in the windy region.