At least 15 people lost their lives and eight others were injured in a tragic road accident near Malakand on the Swat Expressway late Wednesday night. The accident occurred when a truck carrying nomadic families from Swat to Faisalabad plunged into a deep ravine after its brakes reportedly failed on a steep slope.
Rescue officials confirmed that the truck was carrying nomads from Bahrain and the nearby areas of Swat. The vehicle went out of control while descending the highway, leading to the deadly crash. Among the victims were several women and children, as many of the families were traveling together for seasonal migration.
Rescue 1122 teams and Levies personnel quickly arrived at the scene and began a difficult recovery operation due to the rough and hilly terrain. The bodies and the injured were moved to Category A Hospital Batkhela (DHQ Hospital), where medical staff provided emergency treatment. Hospital sources reported that several of the injured are in critical condition, and more medical assistance has been requested.
Authorities described the scene as extremely tragic, with wreckage and belongings scattered across the ravine. Eyewitnesses said the families were on their way to Faisalabad, following their usual migration route to escape the cold winters of Swat and find work in the plains.
Police have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident. Officials suspect brake failure to be the primary reason, but are also examining whether the vehicle was overloaded. The incident has once again raised concerns about road safety and the condition of heavy transport vehicles on the Swat Expressway.
