CHAKWAL: At least nine people were killed and 30 others injured when a passenger bus fell into a ditch near the Balkassar Interchange on the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M2) early Sunday morning.
According to Rescue 1122, the bus was en route to Lahore from Islamabad when one of its tyres burst, causing the driver to lose control. The vehicle veered off the road, overturned, and plunged into a ditch.
Dr. Saeed Akhter, CEO of Chakwal District Health Authority, confirmed the death toll and injuries. “Eight passengers died on the spot, while one succumbed to her injuries at the hospital,” he said. The bus driver was also among the deceased.
Chakwal Deputy Commissioner Sarah Hayat and Assistant Commissioner Zeeshan Sharif visited the injured at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital and directed that the best possible medical care be provided.
Rescue officials said more than 40 passengers were onboard. Among the victims were four children, including an eight-month-old and a one-year-old. Two sisters aged 14 and two also died, while their mother was injured. A Filipino woman, Emy Dela Cruz, married and residing in Lahore, was among the wounded.
Six rescue vehicles were dispatched to the scene. Personnel from the Motorway Police, Chakwal Police, and the Frontier Works Organisation also assisted in the emergency response.
Some injured were taken to the Kallar Kahar Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, while others and the deceased were transferred to Chakwal DHQ Hospital. Four of the injured were reported in critical condition and referred to Rawalpindi.
Chakwal District Police Officer Ahmed Mohiuddin sent a team of senior officers to investigate. “The site has been cordoned off, and police are following legal procedures,” a spokesperson said.
Rescue officer Shaukat Ali emphasized the need for vehicle fitness, particularly tyres and brakes, to prevent such tragedies.
Road accidents remain common in Pakistan, often caused by mechanical failures, overspeeding, and poor compliance with traffic rules.
