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1st LD Writethru: 21 killed in southern Afghan traffic accident

Xinhua, January 29, 2015 Adjust font size:

At least 21 people were killed and more than 30 others wounded after a bus collided with a truck in the southern Afghan province of Zabul on Thursday, police said.

The crash occurred in Kakarano Chine of provincial capital Qalat city, along the Kabul-Kandahar Highway at around midday, deputy provincial police chief Ghulam Jiliani Farahi told Xinhua.

"Nearly all 50 people aboard the passenger bus were affected as a result of the accident. A total of 21 people were confirmed dead and over 30 others were wounded. All casualties were shifted to hospitals in Qalat city," the official said.

The bus was traveling to the capital of Kabul when the incident took place.

Afghan officials blamed reckless driving for most traffic incidents, saying reckless driving on congested roads and highways is the main cause of road accidents in the Central Asian country. Endi