At least eight people, including two Levies officers, died and 22 others were injured in a road accident in Bela town of district Lasbela in Balochistan early Wednesday, reported 24NewsHD TV channel.

A passenger coach travelling from Panjgur to Karachi turned turtle on National Highway after its brakes failed. The skidding vehicle then smashed into the checkpost of the Levies force. Resultantly, eight people including two Levies men deployed at the post died while 22 others got injuries.

Rescue officials said the passenger bus was rolled and turned turtle after skidding off the road.

Following the accident, police and rescue officials rushed to the site and shifted the bodies and injured to Civil Hospital, Bela and then to a public hospital in Quetta.

Medics at the hospital feared that the death toll might further rise because several of the injured with broken limbs were in critical condition.

The deceased included three women and two children while six of the wounded were in a critical condition.

A number of people present near the accident site said after the vehicle lost control, it smashed into the check post and then overturned. Identification of the deceased passengers is underway after which the bodies will be sent back home. 

Pakistan has one of the world’s worst records for fatal traffic accidents. Fast and reckless driving, poor road infrastructure and lack of safety precautions lead to a high number of accidents.

The high accident rate is often attributed to numerous U-turns and dangerous turns on the major roads. 

Experts are of the opinion that 35 percent of road accidents are caused by the faulty designing of the roads.