Road Crashes on rise in Balochistan
Road Crashes on rise in Balochistan
Manzoor Mosiani
Editor's BlogLatest

Road accidents have increased in the province of Balochistan; the other day accident at Kakaheer, Wadh, Khuzdar, left seven dead and fifteen maimed as a Dumper truck collided with a passenger bus bound to Karachi from Quetta. The rush from and to the provincial capital city – Quetta is a big concern, bumper to bumper traffic is a routine matter,the National Highways are turning dangerous day by day.

Road accidents have increased in the province of Balochistan; the other day accident at Kakaheer, Wadh, Khuzdar, left seven dead and fifteen maimed as a Dumper truck collided with a passenger bus bound to Karachi from Quetta. The rush from and to the provincial capital city – Quetta is a big concern, bumper to bumper traffic is a routine matter,the National Highways are turning dangerous day by day.

Likewise, this year in the month of January, a Passenger bus from Panjugur to Karachi had a head on collision with a Mazda truck, which set both the vehicles on fire, consequently 27 peoples were burnt to death and 6 got injured.The accident occurred at a curve near Lasbela town. Unfortunately, it was not the first fire-related accident, given the situation, it can’t be said with certainty would be the last one.

In the fatal road accidents previous year 376 people lost their lives, not to have the count of those suffered severe injuries as the authorities not bother to keep the record. Let us have a look at the casualties of the previous years’accidents, in the following district wise:


The above chart shows, after Quetta District- the provincial capital city, Lasbela District appears to have to meet more accident related deaths.The National Highways – black top roads in Balochistan are more prone to accidents than the Farm to Market – black top roads and Shingle roads. Probably the narrowness of the National Highways is the main reason to cause deaths.

Looking into the other causes of the road accidents it stands that,first, the distraction behind the wheels even for a split in second causes a crash. Second, bad visibility either because of weather conditions or human impairment. Third, speed driving makes little the chances of taking cautious measures. Fourth, traffic engineering design faults. Fifth,the continuous dripping of oil from vehicles makes surfaces of the roads more slippery, specifically during rains. The accidents generally happen to buses, cars, trailers, trucks and motor bikes.

One of the ugly features of the road accident is burn to death accidents on National High Ways. This sort of road accidents in the vehicles is attributed to Businesses in Sul– canes carrying diesel and petrol in the passenger or the private vehicles as well as the remains of fuel – diesel or petrol that rest at the bottom in the carriers in the vehicles. As the spark lightens during accidents abruptly the whole vehicle catches fire.

The non-existence of trauma centers on the road-sides in Balochistan province, having a big land masses with a narrow lines makes the transportation of the patients vulnerable to death from the sites of the accidents to the capital city of either Quetta or Karachi.The long hours after the accident to reach hospitals is the other cause of deaths.

Keeping in view the importance of driving a vehicle, in short term, the education on traffic rules, regulations,signs, symbols may be highlighted prominently and speed limited at different roads or curves is to be created through constant awareness campaigns.Fitness of the vehicles plying on roads is to be ensured.The lights over and above the design of the vehicle may be removed. Snap checking to see into the driving licenses may be done regularly.Careless driving to be discouraged through fines.

In long term, while designing the roads, traffic engineering skills may be applied to allow enough space for the traffic to smoothly run on roads. Smuggling from the neighboring countries of oil may be regularized. Safe driving has to be made a part of the curriculum, to create a realization on the accidents that matter.