A series of road accidents across Balochistan have claimed the lives of four individuals, including a Portuguese tourist.
In a tragic incident near Dalbandin in the Chaghi district of Balochistan, a Portuguese tourist lost his life in a road accident on the Quetta-Taftan linking RCD Highway (N-40). The Portuguese national, 28-year-old Nuno Miguel Castanhiera was traveling on a motorcycle when a head-on collision occurred with an Iranian-made Zamyad pick-up vehicle traveling in the opposite direction.
Despite immediate transfer to Prince Fahad Hospital in Dalbandin, Castanhiera succumbed to his injuries. The two occupants of the pick-up vehicle, who sustained injuries, were also rushed to the hospital where they received medical aid before being detained by the Levies Force for investigation.
Meanwhile, on the Quetta-Karachi Highway near Jungle Cross, Abdul Basit , a resident of Ziarat, lost his life when his motorcycle collided with a Mazda bus. Basit was pronounced dead at the scene, and his body was subsequently moved to Nawab Ghous Bakhsh Raisani Hospital for necessary procedures.
In the third incident, two men lost their lives on the Makran Coastal Highway in Gwadar district. Muhammad Yasin and Muhammad Ali, both from the Kech district, were killed instantly when their motorcycle collided with a water tanker. The tanker driver was arrested at the scene.
These incidents underscore the urgency of addressing the perilous condition of Balochistan’s highways, often dubbed “killer highways” due to the high frequency of fatal accidents. Despite persistent public outcry for improved infrastructure and safety measures, tangible progress remains elusive, raising questions about the authorities’ commitment to protecting the lives of road users.