SWAT: A tragic road accident on the Swat Motorway turned Eid travel into mourning after a speeding van collided with a stationary bus, killing at least 17 passengers and injuring several others, officials said.
According to rescue authorities, the accident occurred near Ismaila when a passenger bus traveling from Swat to Peshawar broke down and was parked along the roadside.
Passengers had stepped out of the vehicle when a van coming from Rawalpindi to Dir lost control, ran over people standing nearby, and then crashed into the rear of the bus.
The sudden impact caused panic and chaos at the scene, with screams reported as local residents and rescue teams rushed to assist.
Rescue officials said all bodies and injured passengers were shifted to the Mardan Medical Complex, where several injured are reported to be in critical condition.
Rescue spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi confirmed that 17 people were killed and more than 10 injured, including three in serious condition.
Initial reports suggest the accident occurred due to negligence and overspeeding by the van driver.
Motorway police said the driver failed to notice the stationary bus in time, resulting in the high-speed collision. Traffic on the expressway remained severely disrupted following the incident.
More read, Over 20 killed, several injured in Quetta railway track blast; BLA claims responsibility
Earlier, at least 20 people were injured Sunday when an explosion occurred near a railway track close to Chaman Phatak in Quetta, rescue officials said.
The blast partially damaged a train and also struck 10 parked vehicles in the area, police said. The force of the explosion shattered windows and glass panels of nearby buildings.
Following the incident, an emergency was declared at government hospitals across Quetta, and all relevant institutions were placed on high alert, according to Babar Yousafzai, spokesperson for the home minister.
He urged the public to avoid gathering near the blast site to ensure safety and allow emergency teams to work without obstruction.
