A tragic road accident in the Andes mountains of Peru has resulted in the deaths of at least 18 people and injuries to 48 others, authorities reported on Friday, July 26, 2025. The accident involved a double-decker bus operated by the company Expreso Molina Líder Internacional. The bus, en route from Lima to the Amazon region, veered off a winding mountain highway in Palca, a district in the Junín region, and fell down a steep slope.

According to Junín’s regional health director Clifor Quiripaco, the accident occurred during the early morning hours. "The vehicle skidded off the road and fell down an embankment. The impact was so violent that the bus split into two," Quiripaco told reporters. The structural disintegration of the vehicle upon impact indicates the severity of the crash.

Dramatic footage from local TV stations showed the wreckage at the crash site, with firefighters and police personnel tirelessly working to extract passengers trapped inside the twisted metal. The injured were rushed to nearby regional hospitals, where medical teams are attending to survivors.

The exact cause of the accident is still under investigation, but early reports suggest that a combination of poor road conditions and possible driver negligence may have led to the vehicle losing control. Given the notoriously dangerous mountain roads in the region, which are often narrow, slippery, and lacking barriers, such accidents are unfortunately not uncommon.

This tragedy adds to an alarming pattern of road mishaps in Peru. Earlier this year, in January 2025, a similar crash resulted in six deaths and 32 injuries when another bus tumbled into a river in the Puno region. In that case, reckless driving and high speed were identified as major factors.

The Attorney General’s Office of Peru had previously published a report highlighting that excessive speed, lack of driver training, and vehicle overloading are among the leading contributors to road fatalities in the country. In 2024 alone, over 3,173 people lost their lives in traffic-related incidents, according to Peru’s Death Information System (SINADEF).

The Palca crash has once again stirred national debate over the dire state of road safety in Peru. Experts argue that systemic issues such as weak regulatory enforcement, poor road infrastructure, lack of signage, and delayed emergency responses only worsen the outcome of such accidents.

Authorities are under mounting pressure to implement safety reforms in the wake of this disaster. Proposed measures include:

• Installing more road safety barriers along steep mountain routes.

• Conducting frequent technical inspections of public transport vehicles.

• Enforcing stricter driver licensing tests and background checks.

• Implementing speed monitoring systems on vulnerable highways.

• Upgrading emergency medical facilities along major transport routes.

The Expreso Molina Líder Internacional bus company is also expected to face scrutiny. Regulatory authorities are examining its maintenance records, driver training practices, and route permissions to determine compliance with national transport standards.

Meanwhile, rescue operations at the crash site have concluded. Emergency services confirm that all bodies have been recovered and that search and rescue efforts were executed throughout the night under challenging conditions, including low visibility and rugged terrain.

As Peru grapples with the aftermath of yet another deadly transportation accident, the national grief is palpable. Public outrage is growing, with many demanding accountability and long-overdue infrastructure improvements.

Despite the country's stunning geography, which includes some of the most beautiful mountain ranges in the world, the same landscape also poses extreme logistical challenges for safe road construction and maintenance. The route from Lima to the Amazon basin, in particular, is considered one of the most dangerous travel corridors, especially during the rainy season when landslides, erosion, and low traction are frequent hazards.

In the coming days, Peru’s Ministry of Transport and Communications is expected to release a preliminary report and initiate administrative actions against any violations found. Victims’ families have been promised compensation under Peruvian road safety and public transport insurance laws.

While the exact cause may still take weeks to be officially determined, what remains undeniable is the urgent need for a nationwide overhaul of transport regulations and infrastructure. The human cost of inaction is simply too high to ignore any longer.

As Peru mourns, the hope is that this horrific event becomes a turning point — one that galvanizes both government action and public awareness towards building a safer, more accountable road system.

The Upcoming IPOs in this week and coming weeks are M&B Engineering, Cash Ur Drive Marketing, Renol Polychem, Jyoti Global Plast, Takyon Networks, Mehul Colours, Aditya Infotech, Sri Lotus Developers & Realty, Lakshmi India Finance, Jyoti Global Plast, B.D. Industries (Pune), Kaytex Fabrics, Umiya Mobile, Repono, NSDL.

The Current active IPO are Shree Refrigerations, Sellowrap Industries, Shanti Gold International, Patel Chem Specialities, Brigade Hotel Ventures, Indiqube Spaces, GNG Electronics, TSC India.

Start your Stock Market Journey and Apply in IPO by Opening Free Demat Account in Choice Broking FinX.

Join our Trading with CA Abhay Telegram Channel for regular Stock Market Trading and Investment Calls by CA Abhay Varn - SEBI Registered Research Analyst.