Bus plunges into ravine in Chakwal, killing five in thick fog

At least five people were killed and 27 others seriously injured on Wednesday morning when a passenger bus traveling from Rawalpindi to Multan plunged into a 100-foot-deep ravine in Chakwal, officials said.

Rescue officials said the accident occurred near the hilly terrain of Dhok Pathan in Talagang, a difficult stretch of road where sharp turns traverse steep slopes. Dense fog and poor visibility forced the bus to veer off course, causing it to skid and fall into the ravine.

Residents were among the first to reach the site and helped rescue teams extract the victims from the rubble. Rescue 1122 and the district administration later shifted the injured to Talagang Municipal Hospital, while the bodies were taken to Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, Talagang.

Authorities said seven women were among the injured, some of whom were in critical condition. The injured included passengers from Multan (six), Bahawalpur (five), Karachi (two), Layyah (two), Khanewal (three), Rahim Yar Khan (two), Swat (one), Rawalpindi (one) and other cities. The victims were aged between 15 and 60 years old.

The deceased were identified as Zia Ahmed, 40, of Kotli Sattian; Abdul Sattar, 56, from Multan; and Muhammad Ishaq, 33, from Lodhran. Authorities said the identities of two other victims were being confirmed.

Read: Six dead in ambulance collision with bus

The Talagang deputy commissioner said the dense fog combined with the hilly terrain caused the bus to lose control. The highway and CPEC routes had been closed due to fog, forcing traffic, including buses, to use the GT Road.

“The bus lost control while traveling on steep roads in foggy conditions,” a rescue official said, adding that an investigation was underway.

Authorities have urged drivers to exercise extreme caution as fog continues to reduce visibility across much of Punjab. Several major highways in the province have been closed for road safety reasons.

Bus accidents are common in Pakistan, often blamed on driver negligence, poor road conditions and bad weather. On January 1, at least 14 people were killed and 29 injured when a speeding van collided head-on with a University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences bus on Faisalabad Road. In December 2025, at least 11 people were killed when a bus overturned on the M-14 highway near Fateh Jang.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief over the Chakwal accident and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured.