A tragic road accident claimed the lives of twelve members of a nomad family and left three others injured on Dana Sar Road in Dera Ismail Khan district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police reported on Friday.

The accident occurred when a mini-truck carrying the family from Khanuzai, Balochistan, plunged into a deep ravine after its brakes reportedly failed. The victims were en route to Dera Ismail Khan to settle for the winter when the tragedy struck.

According to officials, the deceased included women, children, and three men. The injured were given first aid at the scene before being transferred to a local hospital for further treatment.

Local residents rushed to the site and assisted police and rescue teams in recovery efforts, working together to retrieve the victims from the wreckage.

Fatal traffic accidents are frequent in Pakistan due to poor road conditions, lack of safety measures, and widespread non-compliance with traffic regulations. Rural and mountainous areas remain especially vulnerable to such deadly incidents.

Earlier this year in May, five policemen — including Assistant Director Zakir Awan and IG’s Reader Ali Bukhari — died when their vehicle plunged into a ravine in Dhirkot tehsil of Azad Jammu and Kashmir’s Bagh district. The accident, which occurred in the Lasdana tourist region, also claimed the lives of policemen Fahim, SHO Naveed, and Inspector Yasir Kiani, according to local authorities.

Friday’s tragedy in Dera Ismail Khan once again highlights the persistent risks posed by inadequate road safety infrastructure across Pakistan. (ILKHA)