Road accident claims three lives in eastern Afghanistan

Incident occurrs on outskirts of Maidan Shar City along Kabul-Kandahar highway which also left three others injured

A road accident on Sunday morning in Afghanistan’s Wardak province claimed the lives of three people, leaving three others critically injured, according to local police authorities.

The incident occurred on the outskirts of Maidan Shar City, the provincial capital, along the Kabul-Kandahar highway, a vital route that connects Afghanistan's capital to the southern region of the country.

Mohammad Yosuf Asrar, a spokesperson for the provincial police, confirmed that the victims were members of the same family, including two women.

The injured individuals are currently receiving medical treatment at the provincial hospital in Wardak, but their conditions are reportedly critical.

The accident, which involved a collision between a cargo truck and a passenger vehicle in the Sang-e Sia area, is one of many such incidents contributing to a rising number of road fatalities across Afghanistan.

Local authorities have pointed to reckless driving, excessive speeding, and poor road conditions as the leading causes of these accidents.

According to recent data, road accidents have become a major safety concern in Afghanistan. Over the past year, around 2,000 people have died, and 6,000 others have been injured in 4,270 traffic accidents across the country.

The lack of traffic signs, congested roads, and deteriorating infrastructure further exacerbate the problem, particularly on major highways like the Kabul-Kandahar route.

In just the past two months, nearly 100 people have lost their lives in road accidents, with dozens more suffering injuries.

Officials from the Taliban-controlled traffic department have urged drivers to exercise caution, attributing many of these accidents to reckless behavior behind the wheel.