6dd65337b696f34fd4d98b3c1d9cea1f.webp
Image Afghanistan’s Helmand Information Department/AFP via Getty Images
Mavhungunekuvule Mungomeni
On Sunday morning, March 17th, tragedy struck on the Herat-Kandahar highway in the Grishk district of Helmand province, Afghanistan. A devastating accident unfolded as a bus collided with an oil tanker and a motorbike, claiming the lives of twenty-one individuals. The chaotic scene unfolded when the tanker erupted into flames on the dusty road, amidst the wreckage strewn from the collision.
According to a report by Media 24, a provincial official emphasised, “Deadly traffic accidents remain a frequent occurrence in Afghanistan, exacerbated by decades of war and subsequent infrastructure challenges. The withdrawal of foreign troops in 2021 and the Taliban’s assumption of power further complicated matters. Southern Helmand province, once a Taliban stronghold, continues to grapple with inadequate road infrastructure and lax regulation, contributing to hazardous driving conditions on highways.” The official noted that the passenger bus involved in the tragic collision was en route from Herat city to the capital, Kabul, when it initially collided with a motorbike.
As per Helmand traffic management officials, the tragic sequence began when the bus driver lost control, colliding with an oil tanker traveling in the opposite direction from the southern city of Kandahar to Herat. The impact sparked a devastating fire, claiming multiple lives. Additionally, a motorbike collided with a bus bound for Kabul, resulting in the immediate fatalities of both riders. Subsequently, the bus driver lost control once more, veering into the opposite lane and striking an oil tanker en route to Herat. Tragically, both vehicles were engulfed in flames shortly after the collision occurred.
“When the bus hit the tanker, it pierced the tank which burst into flames, the flames got bigger and bigger all the passengers in the front were burned,” said Ghulam Sarwar.
Deepak Upadhyay reported that the tragic incident led to the death of sixteen passengers on the bus, two on the motorbike, and three in the tanker.
Spokesman for provincial government Mawlawi Mohammad Qasim Raiz said, “Many of the passengers had been asleep when the accident happened around 3 am. However, the reason for the crash could be reckless driving. An investigation has been initiated into the accident.”
It will take time to reveal the identity of the deceased, especially those who were burned during the fatal accident. Family and Friends are still waiting to recover the remains of their loved ones.
The officials are currently investigating what could have happened which resulted in this unfortunate incident.
About the Author
