Chakwal, July 27, 2025: At least nine people were killed and 30 others injured early Sunday morning when a passenger bus travelling from Islamabad to Lahore plunged into a ditch near the Balkassar Interchange on the Islamabad-Lahore Motorway (M-2) in Punjab’s Chakwal district.
According to a statement by Rescue 1122, the tragic accident occurred after one of the bus’s tyres burst, causing the driver to lose control, sending the vehicle off the road and into a roadside ditch, where it overturned.
Chakwal District Health Authority CEO Dr. Saeed Akhter confirmed the casualties, stating that eight passengers died at the scene, while one succumbed to injuries at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital. The driver of the bus was among the deceased.
Rescue officials reported that the bus was carrying more than 40 passengers at the time of the crash. According to the list issued by Rescue 1122, the deceased included four children, among them an eight-month-old infant and a one-year-old. The oldest victim was aged 45 years, while the injured ranged from 16 to 55 years.
Tragically, two sisters, aged 14 and 2, lost their lives in the incident, while their mother sustained injuries. A Filipina woman, Emy Dela Cruz, married and residing in Lahore, was also among the injured.
Rescue 1122 swiftly dispatched six emergency vehicles to the site. Personnel from the National Highways and Motorway Police, Chakwal Police, and the Frontier Works Organisation also reached the scene to assist with rescue and clearance operations.
The injured were transported to Kallar Kahar Tehsil Headquarters Hospital and Chakwal DHQ Hospital, while four of the critically injured were later referred to Rawalpindi, according to Medical Superintendent Dr. Mukhtar Sarwar Niazi.
Chakwal Deputy Commissioner Sarah Hayat and Assistant Commissioner Zeeshan Sharif visited the hospital to oversee treatment efforts. The DC directed that all necessary medical facilities be extended to the injured.
Chakwal District Police Officer Ahmed Mohiuddin dispatched a team of senior officers to the site. “The area has been cordoned off and the matter is being dealt with according to law,” said a police spokesperson.
Rescue and Safety Officer Shaukat Ali praised the prompt response of the emergency teams, emphasizing that professional expertise helped minimize the disaster’s impact. He also urged the public to ensure full vehicle fitness—including tyre, brake, and steering checks—before long-distance travel.
Fatal road accidents remain frequent in Pakistan, often caused by over speeding, poor vehicle maintenance, and neglect of traffic laws. Earlier this month, six people died and 27 were injured in a similar crash near the Chakri Interchange, while in February, eight passengers were killed in another bus accident near Bhagal village, not far from Balkassar.
