In September, Balochistan witnessed 823 traffic accidents that claimed 24 lives and injured 1173, according to statistics released by the Medical Emergency Response Center (MERC) 1122.
The statistics reveal Highway N-25 as a significant hotspot for these accidents. On Lak Pass-Mastung, 79 accidents were recorded, resulting in 4 deaths and 115 injuries. A further 38 accidents on the N-25 Kalat caused 3 fatalities and 56 injuries.
Similarly, N-25 Baghbana-Khuzdar recorded 61 accidents with one death and 81 injuries, and N-25 Khuzdar-Drakalaw reported 62 accidents injuring 85 people. 54 accidents on N-25 Tiaro-Lasbela led to 1 death and 68 injuries, while N-25 Winder-Lasbela saw 116 accidents, resulting in one fatality and 128 injuries.
Moreover, N-25 Saranan-Pishin and N-25 Chaman combined faced 52 accidents, resulting in 2 deaths and 94 injuries. Areas along N-50, including Ziarat Cross-Pishin, Nasai Qila Saifullah, Qila Saifullah-Shanki, and Badin Zai-Zhob, reported a combined 155 accidents, causing 9 deaths and 199 injuries.
Furthermore, N-65 Gokurt-Kachhi saw 36 accidents that resulted in 2 deaths and 79 injuries. Additional regions, such as BakhtiarAbad-Sibi, Cattle Farm-Jaffarabad, and Mukhtar-Loralai, spanning N-65 and N-70, documented a combined 92 accidents leading to 126 injuries.
These alarming statistics highlight the pressing need for enhanced safety measures, stricter enforcement of traffic regulations, and infrastructural upgrades to address the escalating number of road accidents in Balochistan.