Balochistan: Death toll rises to 15 in van-bus collision

Balochistan [Pakistan], October 8 (ANI): The death toll in a collision between a passenger van and a bus on the Quetta-Sibi National Highway rose to 15, on Sunday.

Yesterday, it was reported that at least 13 people were killed and several others injured in the accident.

The severity of the collision was such that the van was crushed completely and six people, including the driver, died on the spot, The Express Tribune reported.

The injured were admitted to the Civil Hospital, Quetta for treatment.

The police said the over-speeding van, which was also carrying passengers beyond its capacity that some of whom were even perched on the rooftop. The collision occurred as the driver of the van lost control and rammed it into a bus with the incoming bus near Dashat in Mastung district.

"The van literally looked like a twisted scrap and we had to cut through the wreckage to be able to extract bodies and the injured that were stuck," the police officials said, adding that the collision killed six passengers from the van on the spot, while 29 passengers in both vehicles got injured.

The bus was hired by the staff from the Balochistan University of Information Technology, Engineering and Management Sciences and they were headed to Bolan for a picnic.

"Three security officials, including two Levies men and one army personnel, sitting in the passenger van were among the six who lost their lives," the police officials further said.

The initial investigations had stated that speeding was the main cause for the accident. (ANI)