At least 39 people, including women and children, were killed after a passenger bus plunged into a deep ravine in the Danasar area of Zhob district, Balochistan, on Thursday, according to police and rescue officials.

Police said the bus was traveling from Quetta to Peshawar when its brakes reportedly failed, causing the driver to lose control before the vehicle veered off the road and fell into a ravine.

The crash resulted in the deaths of 39 passengers, while several others, including women and children, sustained injuries.

Rescue teams and local authorities rushed to the scene and launched emergency operations to recover victims and transport the injured to District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital Zhob for medical treatment.

Officials said the rescue operation continued for several hours due to the difficult terrain, while authorities worked to identify the victims and notify their families.

The tragic accident is among the deadliest road crashes reported in Balochistan in recent years and has once again highlighted concerns over road safety, vehicle maintenance, and passenger transport standards on the province's highways.

Authorities are expected to conduct a formal investigation to determine the exact cause of the crash, although preliminary findings indicate that brake failure was responsible for the accident.