SOCIETY — May 30, 2026

Vehicle Carrying Returnees Overturns in Laghman, Killing 18 and Injuring 29

A vehicle carrying Afghan returnees from Pakistan overturned in Laghman's Qarghayi district, killing 18 and injuring 29, though updated figures from a health official later raised the toll to 22 dead and 36 injured.

The Ehtebar Desk — originates with Hasht-e Subh — corroborated by Pajhwok, Khaama Press, Bakhtar News and 1 more2 min read

Vehicle Carrying Returnees Overturns in Laghman, Killing 18 and Injuring 29
Image courtesy Hasht-e Subh

A vehicle carrying Afghan families returning from Pakistan overturned early Saturday morning on the Kabul-Jalalabad highway in the Qarghayi district of Laghman province. The location of the accident was near the Surkh Kano area. The returnees had been temporarily settled in Kunar province and were traveling to Kabul when the vehicle overturned.

Initial reports stated that 18 people were killed, including 10 children and 5 women. Another 29 people were injured in the accident. The total number of casualties was 47 according to these reports. The injured were transferred to hospitals in Nangarhar province, where some of them are said to be in critical condition.

Nangarhar Public Health Director Mawlawi Aminullah Sharif provided updated figures on the casualties. He said the death toll had surged to 22 people. The number of injured also increased to 36 according to the latest information from the health department.

The cause of the accident remains under investigation by officials. The passengers were part of families that had returned from Pakistan.

Read the original reporting at Hasht-e Subh

Reliability assessment

5 independent outlets corroborate the core event (overturned vehicle with returnees in Laghman); named officials (Maulvi Habibullah Mubarak/Mubarez, Mawlawi Aminullah Sharif) provide on-record attribution. Differing casualty counts do not undermine event verification.

The source language mixes facts with framing or advocacy wording. Hasht-e Subh: "increase ... mainly due to poor road conditions, congestion, and failure to observe traffic laws" and "heightened concerns about the safety" – these phrases attribute causation and imply systemic failure or negligence without direct attribution, mixing factual reporting with mild evaluative framing.; Hurriyat: "bloody road" – this emotionally charged metaphor frames the highway as inherently violent rather than simply accident-prone, adding dramatic framing to the factual report of traffic incidents.; Khaama Press: "highlighting growing concerns about road safety", "placing additional pressure on transportation networks and public services", "deteriorating road conditions" — these phrases frame the accident within a narrative of systemic failure and crisis, adding mild advocacy tone beyond neutral reporting.

Across the newsrooms

Where reports agree

  • Accident occurred on 2026-05-30 morning in Qarghayi district, Laghman, on Kabul-Jalalabad highway near Surkhkano intersection.
  • Vehicle carried Afghan returnees from Pakistan traveling from Kunar toward Kabul.
  • Initial reported toll from provincial traffic officials: 18 killed (including women and children) and 29 injured.
  • Injured transported to Nangarhar medical facilities.

Where reports differ

  • Casualty figures: four sources report 18 killed and 29 injured; Pajhwok reports updated figures of 22 killed and 36 injured from Nangarhar Public Health Director.

Filed by 5 outlets

Filed under

SocietyLaghman, traffic accident, returnees, Pakistan, Kabul-Jalalabad highway

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