Bus overturns on Herat-Kabul highway in Zabul, 1 dead 28 hurt
Synopsis
A mechanical failure sent a Herat-to-Kabul passenger bus off the road in Zabul province on 6 July, killing one and hospitalising 28. It is the latest in a string of fatal highway crashes across Afghanistan — in Parwan, Wardak, Kunar, and Faryab — pointing to a deepening road safety crisis on the country's most-used corridors.
Key Takeaways
A passenger bus overturned in Shah Joy district, Zabul province , on 6 July 2025 , killing 1 and injuring 28 .
The bus was travelling from Herat to Kabul ; a technical malfunction is cited as the cause.
All casualties were evacuated by police and local residents to nearby medical facilities.
On 20 June , a separate crash in Parwan province killed 5 and injured 7 .
On 15 June , 4 were killed — including a mother and child — in Wardak province .
Afghanistan has recorded multiple fatal road accidents since May 2025 across at least five provinces .
A passenger bus travelling from Herat to Kabul veered off the road and overturned on the outskirts of Shah Joy district in southern Afghanistan's Zabul province on Monday, 6 July, killing at least one person and injuring 28 others, according to provincial police. The crash was attributed to a technical malfunction in the vehicle.
What Happened
Zabihullah Jawhar, the provincial police spokesman for Zabul, confirmed that the bus lost control and flipped over due to a mechanical failure. Police and local residents responded promptly, evacuating all casualties to nearby medical facilities. The 28 injured remain under observation and treatment, according to Jawhar.
Pattern of Road Accidents in Afghanistan
Monday's crash is the latest in a series of fatal road accidents recorded across Afghanistan in recent weeks. On 20 June, at least five people were killed and seven others injured when a vehicle overturned in the Mandiqol area of Kohi Safi district in eastern Afghanistan's Parwan province, according to provincial police spokesman Fazul Rahim Muskenyar. The injured were transferred to medical facilities in Kabul.
Earlier, on 15 June, four travellers — including a mother, her child, and two other women — were killed and four others injured after a mini-bus overturned in Saydabad district of eastern Wardak province, provincial police spokesman Mohammad Yusuf Israr said. A separate accident in Kunar province around the same period left one dead and four injured.
On 3 May, at least three people died in a high-speed collision between a passenger vehicle and a truck on the outskirts of Andkhoy district in northern Faryab province. Authorities confirmed an investigation was initiated into that incident.
Road Safety Crisis on Afghan Highways
Afghanistan's highway network has long been plagued by fatal accidents driven by poorly maintained vehicles, inadequate road infrastructure, and reckless driving. The Herat-Kabul route, one of the country's most heavily trafficked corridors, has been the site of repeated crashes. Technical malfunctions — as cited in Monday's Zabul incident — are a recurring factor in official accounts, though independent verification is limited given restricted media access in the country.
Official Response
No statement has been issued by Afghanistan's Taliban-led administration at the national level regarding the Zabul crash. Local police confirmed that all casualties received medical attention, and the injured remain under care. Authorities have not announced a formal investigation into this latest incident.
As Afghanistan's road accident toll mounts through mid-2025, calls for stricter vehicle roadworthiness checks and improved highway maintenance continue to go largely unaddressed at the policy level.
Point of View
A speeding vehicle there — but the cumulative toll across Zabul, Parwan, Wardak, Kunar, and Faryab within two months tells a different story. Afghanistan's road safety crisis is structural: ageing fleets, minimal roadworthiness enforcement, and highways that have seen little maintenance investment. The Taliban administration has yet to issue any national-level policy response to the pattern. Until vehicle inspection regimes and highway infrastructure receive sustained attention, the death toll on Afghan roads will keep climbing — one 'technical malfunction' at a time.
NationPress
6 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What happened in the Zabul bus accident on 6 July 2025?
A passenger bus travelling from Herat to Kabul overturned on the outskirts of Shah Joy district in Zabul province on 6 July 2025, killing at least one person and injuring 28 others. Provincial police spokesman Zabihullah Jawhar attributed the crash to a technical malfunction in the vehicle.
Where were the injured taken after the Zabul bus crash?
Police and local residents evacuated all casualties to nearby medical facilities following the crash. The 28 injured remain under observation and treatment, according to the provincial police spokesman.
How many road accidents have occurred in Afghanistan recently?
At least five notable road accidents have been recorded across Afghanistan since May 2025, spanning Zabul, Parwan, Wardak, Kunar, and Faryab provinces. Combined, these incidents have killed more than 14 people and injured over 50 others.
What caused the bus to overturn in Zabul?
Provincial police spokesman Zabihullah Jawhar said the bus veered off the road due to a technical malfunction. Independent verification is limited given restricted media access in Afghanistan.
Is road safety a wider problem in Afghanistan?
Yes. Afghanistan's highways face persistent safety challenges including poorly maintained vehicles, inadequate road infrastructure, and limited enforcement of driving regulations. The Herat-Kabul route has been the site of multiple fatal crashes, and no national-level policy response has been announced by the Taliban-led administration.
