15 killed as truck overturns on Swat Expressway in Malakand

A heartbreaking road accident took place near the Zulumkot Tunnel on the Swat Expressway in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Malakand district, claiming at least 15 lives and leaving 8 others seriously injured. The tragedy occurred when a truck carrying nomadic families from Swat to Faisalabad reportedly lost control due to brake failure and overspeeding, plunging into a deep ravine.

According to early reports, the truck was transporting families, including women and children, when the driver failed to manage a sharp turn near the tunnel. The vehicle veered off the road and fell into a steep gorge, causing massive casualties on the spot.

Rescue and levies teams arrived quickly at the scene and began search and recovery operations. The injured were shifted to the Category-A DHQ Hospital in Batkhela, where they are receiving emergency treatment. Authorities confirmed that four women and five children were among the deceased.

All the victims were identified as residents of the Bahrain area in Swat. The bodies were recovered after intensive effort and handed over to the families following necessary legal procedures.

The district administration has ordered an inquiry into the accident. Officials are also making efforts to locate and arrest the truck driver, who reportedly fled after the crash. Investigators suspect brake failure combined with overspeeding as the main cause.

Authorities have urged transporters and drivers to maintain vehicles properly and follow traffic safety rules strictly. They warned that negligence on highways and expressways often leads to such deadly accidents.