VIDEO: At least 13 passengers dead, 15 injured in Pakistan’s bus accident

A bus travelling on a highway in Pakistan's Punjab province overturned after its brakes failed on Saturday killing at least 13 people and leaving 15 others injured, police and health officials said.

Saqib Waheed, spokesman for the federal Motorway Police, said the bus was travelling from the capital Islamabad to the eastern city of Lahore when its breaks failed about 135 kilometres (85 miles) from the capital on a sharp turn in the Salt mountain range.

At least five women and three children are among the people who have lost their lives in the accident, the officer said. According to Kalar Kahar Town Hospital official Amjad Hussain, seven bus passengers died in the hospital. Five of the 13 dead, including women and children, died at the scene of the accident and eight injured passengers were still being treated.

Upon receiving the information, police and rescue workers reached the site and shifted the injured to a nearby hospital, where several passengers were said to be in critical condition.

Taking notice of the accident, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of precious lives.

He sought a detailed report of the accident and directed authorities concerned to provide the best medical facilities to the injured.

The First Information report (FIR) was filed on Sunday by Motorway Police Officer Muhammad Bilal at the Kallar Kahar police station.

It names the bus driver, bus owner, manager of the Rawalpindi station (from where the bus departed), manager of the bus company’s station and the motor vehicle examiner as those who are responsible for the accident.

The complainant went on to say that upon inquiring, the survivors alleged the bus was “not fully fit” when it was departing the Rawalpindi bus station.

The FIR quoted them as saying that they informed the driver; the bus owner; and the Rawalpindi station manager, about the vehicle’s “fault”. However, the men told the driver that the bus was fit to be driven, the FIR added.

Regardless, the complaint went on to state that the driver was also to be held responsible for the accident as the bus was not running in a fit condition even when on its way to Islamabad.

“This accident occurred due to the above-mentioned driver’s negligence, carelessness and speeding, as well as due to driving the vehicle at the behest of the bus owner and the station manager,” the FIR states.

Bilal also held the bus company’s officials responsible as they failed to conduct appropriate checks on the bus’ condition and let it function.