Tanker and bus collision in Afghanistan claims 21 lives

The incident took place on a major highway during the early hours of the morning.

A photograph released by Afghanistan’s Helmand Information Department on March 17, 2024 depicts security personnel and volunteers gathered near the remains of a burned passenger bus and oil tanker, following a collision with a motorbike on the Herat-Kandahar highway in the Grishk district of Helmand province.

The collision between a bus and a fuel tanker truck in southern Afghanistan resulted in the death of 21 individuals and injuries to 38 others on Sunday. The bus caught fire after the collision.

Afghanistan has a high incidence of traffic accidents, which can be attributed to a combination of factors such as substandard roads resulting from years of conflict, reckless driving on major highways, and inadequate oversight.

According to Mohammad Qasim Riyaz, a spokesman for the provincial governor, a collision between a passenger bus, a tanker, and a motorbike on a main highway in the Grishk district of southern Helmand province resulted in the death of twenty-one individuals. This occurred, as reported by AFP.

As reported by the provincial information department, out of the total 38 individuals who were harmed, 11 sustained serious injuries.

According to provincial officials, the incident took place during the early morning on a major highway that is commonly used for travel between the western city of Herat and the capital of Kabul, passing through southern provinces.

According to the information department, Helmand traffic management officials reported that the passenger bus was on its way from Herat to Kabul when it crashed into a motorbike carrying two individuals, resulting in the deaths of both riders.

The driver of the bus lost control and collided with a tanker truck going in the opposite direction, leading to a fire.

The collision resulted in the deaths of three individuals aboard the tanker and 16 individuals traveling on the bus.

According to Ghulam Sarwar, a survivor who spoke to AFP at a hospital in Lashkar Gah, the tank was pierced and burst into flames when the bus collided with it.

According to the speaker, the fire grew in intensity and the individuals at the front of the vehicle suffered burns. However, those at the back managed to break a window and flee by jumping out.

Had the window not been shattered, all of the passengers would have perished.

‘An awful experience’

According to the information department, pictures revealed the presence of burnt and distorted metal pieces scattered along the highway, as well as the damaged cabin of the tanker.

According to authorities, the debris was promptly removed from the site by clean-up crews upon their arrival.

According to Sarwar, the bus was crowded with individuals who had been recently expelled from Iran, including a large number of Afghans who were sent back to Afghanistan through the Islam Qala crossing close to Herat.

Sarwar mentioned that there were both children and women among the group, as he injured his foot while jumping off the bus.

As they were being burnt, they let out screams of agony. It was a devastating moment that deeply wounded my heart.

According to Mohammad Reza, a fellow survivor, the accident occurred at approximately 3:00 am (2230 GMT Saturday) while many passengers were still sleeping.

According to him, there were loud screams and cries as the bus became engulfed in fire. He also mentioned that a few passengers in the final seven or eight rows were able to escape through the window, resulting in some of them getting hurt.

According to him, everyone was attempting to flee and protect themselves.

The spokesman for the Taliban government, expressed remorse for the incident and sent well wishes for a speedy recovery to those who were injured.

According to him, it is essential for drivers to exercise caution while driving and adhere to traffic regulations.

In December 2022, a major incident occurred involving a fuel tanker in Afghanistan’s elevated Salang pass. The truck flipped over and ignited, resulting in the death of 31 individuals and causing severe burns to numerous others.