ISLAMABAD, April 23 (Xinhua) -- At least 13 people were killed and 20 others injured in a road accident in Pakistan's southern Sindh province on Monday night, local authorities confirmed Tuesday.
The incident occurred in the Jamshoro district, where a passenger van carrying more than 30 people veered off the road and plunged into a ravine, according to local police sources.
The passengers were reportedly returning home after working in wheat fields, as the harvest season is currently in full swing across the region.
The killed included four children, and there are many women and children among the injured passengers, the police said.
Rescue teams and local residents rushed to the scene to assist in the emergency response.
All the injured passengers were shifted to a nearby hospital, where the death toll is feared to rise as several among the wounded are in critical condition, the sources added.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident, with initial reports indicating that the driver lost control of the vehicle due to a possible brake failure.
Road accidents are frequent in Pakistan, often due to poor infrastructure, negligence, and a lack of enforcement of traffic regulations.■