What Happened After a Bus Overturned in Afghanistan's Baghlan?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Five fatalities and 44 injuries reported from the bus accident.
- The incident occurred due to reckless driving.
- Travelers are urged to adhere to traffic regulations.
- Snow-clearing operations are ongoing on the Salang highway.
- Similar accidents highlight the dangers of poor road conditions.
Kabul, Dec 21 (NationPress) A tragic incident occurred in the Salang region of Afghanistan's Baghlan province, resulting in the loss of five lives and leaving 44 individuals injured when a bus overturned, as reported by an official statement on Sunday.
According to spokesperson Mohammad Ashraf Haqshenas from Afghanistan's Ministry of Public Works (MoPW), the accident took place in the Shawal area, north of Salang, around 2 am local time on Saturday, as per local media outlet Pajhwok Afghan News.
Haqshenas indicated that the passenger bus veered off the road and flipped over due to reckless driving, leading to the fatalities and injuries reported. The injured passengers were promptly taken to the Khanjan district health center for medical assistance.
The ministry urged individuals traveling along the route to heed the directives provided by officials and to adhere strictly to traffic regulations. Authorities mentioned that snow-clearing operations were underway at various points along the Salang highway.
On December 15, local police reported that three more individuals were killed and 16 others injured in two separate traffic incidents across Afghanistan in a 24-hour period.
A head-on collision between two vehicles on the Kabul-Kandahar highway in eastern Ghazni province resulted in the deaths of two people and left two women injured. In the northern Jawzjan province, other traffic mishaps led to one fatality and 14 injuries.
Authorities have cited reckless driving as a primary cause of these accidents, underscoring the dangers associated with overcrowded and poorly maintained roads in Afghanistan.
On December 13, provincial police spokesperson Bilal Urozgani reported that at least two individuals were killed and nine others injured in a traffic accident in Uruzgan province.
This deadly incident occurred when a vehicle overturned on a major roadway, as confirmed by Xinhua News Agency. The injured were transported to the nearest hospital for treatment.
Officials have attributed the accidents to driver negligence on overcrowded and inadequately maintained roads, highlighting the ongoing risks.