At least 12 dead as bus carrying pilgrims plunges into ravine on Makran Highway

Bus, carrying passengers from Lahore and Gujranwala, was en route from Iran when its brakes reportedly failed

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A bus carrying pilgrims from Iran plunged into a ravine on the Makran Coastal Highway near Buzi Luk, resulting in the death of 12 people, officials reported on Sunday.

According to Edhi rescue sources, 35 others were injured in the incident and were swiftly transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.

The bus, en route from Iran, reportedly experienced brake failure before it veered off the highway and into the ravine.

Rescue teams promptly arrived at the scene to retrieve the deceased and assist the injured.

The deceased are said to be from Lahore and Gujranwala.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives in the Lasbela incident and extended her condolences to the grieving families.

She also prayed for the swift recovery of those injured.

This tragedy comes just days after another bus carrying Pakistani pilgrims met with an accident in Iran, leaving 35 dead and 15 injured. The pilgrims in that incident were from Larkana, Sindh.

"A bus carrying 51 Pakistani pilgrims overturned and caught fire in front of Dehshir-Taft checkpoint in the central province of Yazd on Tuesday night," Iranian state television reported last week on Wednesday.

The Iranian and Pakistani foreign ministries expressed their condolences and sympathies to the families of the bereaved.

Pakistan's Foreign Office further said the consul of Pakistan in Zahedan has been asked to visit the accident site to ensure medical relief to the injured and arrange the repatriation of the dead bodies to Pakistan.