In brief
During an early morning head‑on collision on the Salang Highway in Baghlan province, a passenger bus struck an oil tanker, killing five commuters and injuring about twenty others, local reports said. The crash, blamed on driver negligence, has triggered an investigation. Conflicting casualty figures appear in separate accounts, underscoring the need for further fact‑checking.
A head‑on collision between a passenger bus and an oil tanker on Afghanistan’s Salang Highway in Baghlan province early Friday morning has killed five commuters and injured about twenty others, authorities say, reports Xinhua and the Bakhtar News Agency on Oct. 30. The incident, which occurred near the busy Kabul‑Jalalabad corridor, was witnessed by several locals who reported seeing the bus and tanker careen into each other at high speed.
According to Xinhua, the crash was caused by driver negligence on the part of the bus driver. The driver allegedly failed to maintain proper lane discipline, causing the bus to lose control and collide head‑on with the petrol tanker. Injuries sustained were serious, with some victims reported in critical condition, and all were transported to nearby health centres.
Pajhwok Afghan News corroborated the casualty figures, announcing that a 580‑passenger bus had struck the tanker, killing five and injuring roughly twenty people, many of them critically wounded. The report added that the tanker was carrying hazardous petroleum products, which heightened the severity of the crash.
An alternative report from a local Taliban governor claims that four people died in a traffic collision on the Kabul‑Jalalabad route in Baghlan, though the details of the vehicle involved were not specified. This discrepancy suggests either a different incident or differing casualty counts.
Both Xinhua and Bakhtar have stated that an official investigation is underway to determine the exact causes of the accident. Authorities are examining the bus’s compliance with traffic regulations and scrutinizing the tanker’s driver and safety protocols.
The Salang Highway, a critical artery linking Kabul to the northern provinces, has recently seen an uptick in traffic accidents. The route, known for its narrow lanes and heavy traffic, often experiences hazardous driving conditions, leading officials to emphasize stricter enforcement of road safety.
The tragedy highlights ongoing concerns over road safety in Afghanistan, prompting authorities to urge motorists to exercise caution, particularly during adverse weather and high traffic periods, and to adhere strictly to speed limits and lane discipline.
