24 killed after bus falls into ravine in Pakistan

At least 24 people have died and 67 others injured after a bus fell into a ravine near Dhoke Pathan village in Pakistan on Wednesday night.

"The bus was on its way to Raiwind from Kohat and the passengers were going to Raiwind to attend the annual religious congregation," the Dawn quoted the Station House Officer of Saddar Police Station Muhammad Afzal as saying.

SHO Afzal confirming the caualities said all the passengers belonged to Kohat area.

Some of the passengers were taken to Rawalpindi as their condition was remained critical.

According to the SHO Afzal, the original route for the bus was Raiwind via Islamabad-Lahore Motorway but it opted for another route.

"The motorway is closed after 10 p m due to smog and overloaded buses are fined on the motorway. That's why the driver opted to go through GT Road," he said.

"The driver was unfamiliar with this area and he was running the bus at high speed. The bus fell into the ravine while it was passing through a slope," he added.