Bus Plunges Into Ravine in Badghis, Leaving Multiple Casualties

Qala-e-Naw, Afghanistan—An express passenger bus carrying dozens of travelers veered off a steep highway embankment and plunged into a hundred-meter-deep ravine in Badghis province early Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 5:30 a.m. local time as the long-distance vehicle navigated a sharp, unpaved mountain switchback connecting regional trade corridors.

Emergency responders and local mountain villagers dropped ropes down the steep gravel face to reach the crushed chassis resting at the bottom of the gorge. High-impact forces sheared the roof off the passenger coach, throwing luggage and debris across the rocky riverbed below. Eyewitness Ghulam Hazrat, who was driving a cargo truck directly behind the passenger coach, described the harrowing moment: "The bus lost traction on the loose gravel near the ridge line and went over the edge without braking. It rolled multiple times down the rocky face before slamming into the dry riverbed at the bottom."

Surviving passengers were pulled from the wreckage using manual winches and carried up the steep slope on wooden stretchers. Local health officials dispatched all available ambulances from the provincial capital to transport casualties to nearby trauma centers for urgent treatment of compound fractures and internal injuries. The situation was dire, with many victims requiring immediate medical attention.

Highway traffic along the mountain pass ground to a complete halt as police secured the ridge line to prevent falling rocks from striking rescue teams working below. The lack of motorized crane equipment in the isolated mountain district delayed initial efforts to lift the crushed frame and inspect underneath for trapped commuters. This added to the urgency of the rescue operations, as time was critical for the injured.

Provincial transport leaders have repeatedly warned of severe hazards along the Badghis transit loop, where unpaved lanes, lack of guardrails, and mechanical failures frequently lead to high-impact highway incidents. Maintenance crews confirmed that seasonal runoff had undercut the road shoulders along the exact curve where the vehicle lost control. This incident highlights the ongoing safety concerns that have plagued the region's transport infrastructure.

"Our immediate effort focuses on stabilizing casualties at the bottom of the gorge and raising them to the road level," said Provincial Rescue Coordinator Mohammad Zahir during an on-scene update. "We have opened a formal inquiry into the vehicle's maintenance logs and brake performance records." The investigation aims to determine the cause of the accident and prevent future tragedies.

Recovery operations continue under difficult terrain conditions, with rescue workers clearing wreckage from the dry riverbed while transport authorities attempt to restore single-lane traffic along the upper mountain road. The community remains on high alert as they await further updates on the condition of the injured and the ongoing rescue efforts.

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