Afghanistan: 21 killed, 38 injured after bus collides with oil tanker, motorcycle in Helmand
According to reports, a private bus collided head-on with an oil tanker in the Gerashk district on Sunday morning. The collision also involved a motorcycle.
Cause of the tragic accident
“The private bus and the oil tanker were on their way to Kabul from Herat city. The bus driver lost control and collided with a motorcycle coming from the opposite direction from Kandahar to Herat and then hit the oil tanker. The crash caused the fire on the accident spot,” a senior government official said.
21 people killed in road accident
The provincial information department in a post on X, formerly known as Twitter, confirmed the number of casualties. The department stated that 21 people were killed and 38 others were injured due to the accident. While the three people onboard the tanker lost their lives, 16 bus passengers were killed. The department also shared photos of the accident on the X that showed charred and twisted metals spread across the highway and the damaged cabin of the oil tanker.
Injured victims rushed to nearby hospitals
Of the total 38, 11 victims who sustained serious injuries have been shifted to nearby hospitals. Others who sustained minor injuries were administered first aid and allowed to go to their respective destinations. After the rescue operation was concluded, the debris of the ill-fated vehicles was removed from the highway and the traffic jam was cleared.
Road accidents common in Afghanistan
Road accidents are very common in Afghanistan due to the poor conditions and carelessness of the drivers. The accidents also take place due to the low-lying roads in Afghanistan and the lack of traffic signs.
