Six Lives Lost as Bus Crashes into Ravine in Punjab’s Narowal District

A fatal accident in Pakistan’s Punjab’s Rawalpindi district  has left six people dead and at least 27 others injured after a passenger bus skidded off a bend and fell into a steep ravine early Monday morning. The crash took place near the Chakri Interchange on M-2 motorway, highlighting once again the deadly consequences of poor road infrastructure and lax transport regulation in rural areas.

Authorities said the bus was traveling from Zafarwal to Lahore when it lost control while navigating a sharp curve on a deteriorating stretch of road. Rescue 1122 personnel were dispatched immediately and faced difficult conditions as they worked to extract passengers from the wreckage. The injured were taken to the District Headquarters Hospital in Narowal, where several remain in critical condition.

District Police Officer (DPO) Rana Shahbaz confirmed the death toll and said a formal investigation is underway. “We are looking into all possible causes, including mechanical failure and driver negligence,” Shahbaz stated. Initial findings point to a possible brake malfunction combined with excessive speed on a rain-slicked road.

Such accidents are far too common in Pakistan, particularly on rural routes where roads are often narrow, unmarked, and poorly maintained. Transport operators, critics say, routinely overload buses and neglect vehicle upkeep in a bid to cut costs, while enforcement remains weak.

Retired transport official and road safety advocate Amir Nawaz said the crash underscores systemic issues. “We’ve seen this story unfold again and again—crashes due to negligence, followed by empty promises. Without structural reform and real accountability, these tragedies will continue,” Nawaz told local media.

The Punjab provincial government has yet to announce compensation for the victims’ families or concrete steps to prevent similar accidents. While local leaders offered condolences, there has been no immediate commitment to improving road safety in the region.

The incident has sparked renewed calls for the installation of guardrails along high-risk routes, stricter vehicle inspections, and the enforcement of rest periods for long-haul drivers. For grieving families in Narowal, however, these measures are long overdue.

This latest tragedy adds to a growing list of deadly bus accidents across the country—a grim reflection of policy failures that have long been ignored. Until tangible action is taken, Pakistan’s roads will continue to claim innocent lives.