Bus crash in Afghanistan kills 79, mostly deported migrants

Post by : Jyoti Singh

Photo: Reuters

A devastating road accident in western Afghanistan has taken the lives of at least 79 people, including 17 children. Most of the victims were Afghan migrants who had recently been deported from Iran. The accident occurred late Tuesday night in Herat province, along one of the main roads leading towards Kabul.

According to Taliban officials, the bus carrying the migrants collided with a truck and a motorcycle, leading to a massive fire that engulfed the entire vehicle. Tragically, every passenger aboard the bus died in the blaze, along with two individuals from the other vehicles involved in the crash.

Details of the Accident

The interior ministry spokesperson confirmed that the bus was carrying deported Afghan migrants who had entered Afghanistan through the border town of Islam Qala, a well-known crossing point between Iran and Afghanistan. The passengers had only just begun their journey home when the tragedy struck.

Provincial officials said the bus driver was travelling at a very high speed and was negligent, which contributed to the horrific accident. Afghan police in Herat echoed this statement, saying the driver’s reckless driving was the primary cause of the collision.

Eyewitnesses described a horrifying scene as flames consumed the bus, leaving rescuers unable to save anyone trapped inside. The fact that 17 children were among the victims has added to the sorrow and outrage over the tragedy.

Roads and Safety Concerns in Afghanistan

Traffic accidents are sadly common in Afghanistan. Years of war have left many of the country’s roads damaged and unsafe. Regulations on traffic safety are weak, and enforcement is limited. Many drivers take risks on highways, often speeding to make up for poor road conditions. Vehicles are frequently old and not maintained properly, making them vulnerable to accidents.

According to reports, Afghanistan witnesses thousands of road accidents each year, leading to high death tolls. Families often lose multiple members at once because entire households travel together in overcrowded buses and vans.

This latest accident is one of the deadliest in recent years, and it highlights the urgent need for improved road safety, stricter regulations, and better infrastructure.

The Migrant Crisis Behind the Tragedy

Behind this terrible accident lies a bigger story — the growing crisis of Afghan migrants returning from Iran. Since January, more than 1.5 million Afghans have been forced to leave Iran, according to the UN Refugee Agency. Many of them had lived in Iran for years, some even for generations.

Iran has long hosted millions of Afghan refugees, especially since the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan in 1979 and more recently after the Taliban regained power in 2021. However, Afghan migrants in Iran often face discrimination, low-paying jobs, and harsh living conditions.

In recent months, Tehran has taken stronger steps to expel undocumented Afghans. Iranian authorities had earlier set a July deadline for migrants to leave voluntarily, but later began forcibly deporting them. This move came after Iran’s short war with Israel in June, during which Iranian leaders accused Afghan refugees of posing national security risks.

Critics say this was more of a political excuse, and that Afghans were used as scapegoats for Tehran’s failure to prevent attacks from Israel. Whatever the reason, the result has been the forced return of hundreds of thousands of people to a country already struggling with poverty, unemployment, and lack of resources.

Struggles Awaiting Migrants in Afghanistan

Experts and aid organisations warn that Afghanistan is not prepared to handle the sudden return of so many migrants. The Taliban-led government is already under pressure due to international aid cuts, economic collapse, and limited resources.

Arshad Malik, country director of Save the Children Afghanistan, said the large return of refugees is putting a massive strain on communities that are already struggling to survive. Families who are forced to return often have no homes, no jobs, and no financial support waiting for them in Afghanistan.

This tragedy in Herat shows just how vulnerable these returning migrants are. They are being sent back against their will, travelling in unsafe conditions, and exposed to the dangers of Afghanistan’s broken infrastructure.

Victims of a Larger Problem

For decades, Afghans have sought refuge in Iran and Pakistan to escape conflict, poverty, and instability in their homeland. Millions fled during the Soviet invasion in 1979, millions more during the civil war of the 1990s, and another wave left after the Taliban’s return to power in 2021.

But in Iran, Afghans often face systemic discrimination. Many are denied basic rights such as education and proper healthcare. They are pushed into hard labour jobs with little pay. Even those who have lived in Iran for decades without papers risk being deported at any time.

Now, with deportations happening on a massive scale, the situation has become more desperate. Families are being torn apart, and the sudden return of large groups has created a humanitarian crisis.

A Deadly Journey

The migrants aboard the doomed bus had already suffered the pain of deportation and uncertainty about their future. For them, the bus journey was supposed to be the start of rebuilding their lives in Afghanistan. Instead, it became their final journey.

The accident has sparked grief across Afghanistan, with many families mourning the loss of loved ones. The fact that so many children were among the dead has brought even more heartache. Communities near the border town of Islam Qala, where the victims had begun their journey, are struggling to process the scale of the tragedy.

Calls for Action

This heartbreaking accident has raised urgent calls for action on several fronts:

1. Road Safety in Afghanistan: Activists are urging the Taliban government to repair roads, enforce traffic laws, and regulate drivers to prevent such deadly accidents.

2. Support for Returning Migrants: Aid agencies stress the need for humanitarian support for families who are being deported from Iran and Pakistan. Food, shelter, and job opportunities are essential to help them restart their lives.

3. Diplomatic Pressure on Iran: Some Afghan officials and international organisations believe Iran should be pressured to stop mass deportations, especially when Afghanistan is not prepared to handle the influx.

4. International Aid: With foreign aid already reduced, humanitarian groups are asking the global community to step in and provide financial and material assistance.

A Nation in Mourning

Funerals are being held across Herat and the surrounding provinces for the victims. Families are struggling not only with the sudden deaths but also with the financial burden of burials and the emotional trauma of losing multiple relatives at once.

For the Afghan people, this tragedy is yet another reminder of how years of war, displacement, and poverty continue to shape their lives. Even in moments of peace, dangers on the road and uncertainty about their future put their safety at constant risk.

The Herat bus crash is more than just a traffic accident. It is a reflection of the deep struggles Afghans face every day — from forced deportations and unsafe roads to limited opportunities in their homeland.

Seventy-nine lives were lost in one night, but their story speaks for millions of others who continue to suffer silently. Until road safety is improved, migrants are protected, and Afghanistan is given proper international support, such tragedies will remain a grim reality.