At least 16 people were killed and seven others injured after a passenger coach collided with a parked bus on the Swat Motorway in the Khoro Kotay Saeed Abad area near Mardan on Monday, according to rescue officials.
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The tragic accident occurred when the Swat-bound passenger coach crashed into a bus that had reportedly been parked on the roadside due to a mechanical fault. Rescue 1122 spokesperson Syyed Abbas Shah confirmed the death toll and said emergency teams immediately rushed to the scene after receiving information about the incident.
Officials from the Motorway Police, Rescue 1122, and local residents participated in the rescue operation. The injured passengers and bodies of the deceased were shifted to Mardan Medical Complex Hospital for treatment and identification.
*سوات ایکسپریس وے ٹریفک حادثہ / صوبائی وزیر اطلاعات شفیع جان کا اظہارِ افسوس*
صوبائی وزیر اطلاعات شفیع جان کا سوات ایکسپریس وے پر پیش آنے والے ٹریفک حادثے پر گہرے دکھ اور افسوس کا اظہار
صوبائی وزیر کا جاں بحق افراد کے لواحقین سے دلی تعزیت اور ہمدردی کا اظہار
حادثے میں قیمتی…
— Shafi Jan (@ShafiJanPTI) May 25, 2026
Hospital sources said several victims suffered critical injuries, while the identities of many passengers could not be immediately confirmed. Authorities added that most of the passengers were believed to belong to Dir and Bajaur and were travelling home ahead of Eidul Azha.
According to preliminary findings, the parked bus had developed a technical issue, forcing it to stop on the roadside. Investigators are now examining whether safety measures, warning signs, and proper parking protocols were followed before the collision took place.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Minister Shafi Jan expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the families of those who lost their lives. He assured that the injured were receiving the best possible medical treatment.
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Road accidents remain a major concern in Pakistan, especially during holiday seasons when highways witness increased traffic flow. Authorities have repeatedly urged transport operators to ensure vehicle fitness and follow traffic safety regulations to avoid such devastating incidents.