At Least 10 Dead in Karak Van-Truck Collision on Indus Highway; Separate Crash in Haripur Kills Two

Tamseela Akhtar

Apr 15, 2025 — 1 min read

A deadly head-on collision between a passenger van and a trailer on the Indus Highway in Karak district claimed at least ten lives and left several others injured on Tuesday, according to local police and rescue services.

Fatal Crash on Indus Highway

The tragic incident occurred near Methakhel, in the mountainous stretch of the Indus Highway close to Lucky Ghandaki — an area notorious for its winding turns and high-speed traffic. Police officials said the van, en route from Kohat to Dera Ismail Khan, collided directly with a trailer, likely while attempting to overtake.

Rescue 1122 confirmed that ten passengers died on the spot, while at least eight sustained injuries. Emergency response teams transported the injured to the District Headquarters Hospital in Karak, where a medical emergency was declared due to the number of casualties.

Rescue workers continued recovery operations into the afternoon, with several passengers reportedly trapped in the mangled remains of the vehicle. Authorities cautioned that the death toll could rise, as some of the injured remain in critical condition.

The identities of the deceased have not yet been publicly confirmed.

Separate Bus Accident in Haripur

In a separate incident, a passenger coach traveling from Gilgit to Rawalpindi overturned on the Hazara Motorway near Shah Maqsood in Haripur. Two people were killed and at least 20 others were injured, including three foreign nationals.

Motorway police reported that the driver may have fallen asleep at the wheel, causing the vehicle to veer off the road and overturn. Emergency services arrived quickly and moved the injured to nearby medical facilities for treatment.

Investigations and Public Safety Concerns

Authorities have launched investigations into both accidents and are urging public and private transport operators to enforce rest schedules for drivers and adhere to strict vehicle maintenance protocols.

Frequent accidents on hazardous routes like the Indus Highway have raised concerns over road safety in high-risk areas, prompting calls for better enforcement of traffic laws and infrastructure improvements.

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