Pakistani passenger van plunges into deep ravine, 16 killed

Pakistani passenger van plunges into deep ravine, 16 killed

2011-06-07 06:12:33 GMT+7 (ICT)

BALOCHISTAN, PAKISTAN (BNO NEWS) -- At least 16 people were killed when a passenger vehicle plunged into a ravine in the southwestern region of Pakistan, officials said Monday.

The incident occurred near Chaman, the capital of Qilla Abdullah District, Balochistan, Pakistan, when the passenger van tried to pass a taxi, but it lost control and fell into the deep 200-meter (656 feet) ravine at the Kojak Pass, Balochistan Levies Force Head Constable Abdul Jabar told the Pakistan Daily Times.

The van had taken off from Chaman and was traveling to Quetta, and according to surviving passengers, the driver of the vehicle was speeding and handling the van carelessly until the accident occurred.

According to reports, rescue efforts began around two hours after the incident as traffic began to build up on the narrow road due to a number of onlookers. Furthermore, the deep ravine made it more difficult for rescue workers to reach the crash victims.

In addition to the fatal victims, which included women and children, nine others were reported injured, most of them in critical condition. The bodies and injured were transported to the Civil Hospital Chaman.

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