HELMAND, Afghanistan: Twenty-one lives were tragically lost, and 38 individuals sustained injuries in a devastating collision on Sunday in southern Afghanistan’s Helmand province.
The collision involved a passenger bus, an oil tanker, and a motorbike, highlighting the ongoing challenges of road safety in the region.
Details from the provincial information department revealed that the accident occurred on the Herat-Kandahar highway in the Grishk district of Helmand province. The collision resulted in a fiery blaze, engulfing the vehicles and causing severe damage.
According to Mohammad Qasim Riyaz, spokesman for the Helmand governor, the collision ignited a fire that engulfed both the bus and the tanker. Images shared on social media depicted the aftermath of the accident, with charred wreckage strewn across the highway.
Efforts to clear the debris and assist the injured were underway, with clean-up crews working diligently at the scene. Of the 38 individuals injured, 11 suffered serious injuries, while 27 sustained minor injuries, underscoring the severity of the collision.
Reports from Helmand traffic management officials indicated that the passenger bus, en route from Herat city to Kabul, initially collided with a motorbike, resulting in the deaths of both riders. Subsequently, the bus veered out of control and collided with an oil tanker traveling in the opposite direction from Kandahar to Herat.
Tragically, three individuals from the oil tanker and 16 bus passengers lost their lives in the accident. This incident adds to the concerning trend of deadly traffic accidents in Afghanistan, fueled by poor road conditions, reckless driving, and a lack of regulatory measures.
