Peshawar Mourns as School Roof Collapse kills 34 Children and 2 Teachers
Deadly collapse raises questions over building safety and alleged negligence; authorities launch investigation
Three-storey building in Dir Colony collapses, killing at least 34 children and a female teacher; school owner arrested as authorities launch investigation into alleged safety violations
PESHAWAR: At least 34 children and a female teacher were killed and more than 50 people injured when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar on Thursday, triggering an emergency rescue operation and prompting authorities to launch an investigation into suspected construction flaws and violations of building safety regulations.
The tragedy occurred at a private school in the densely populated Dir Colony, where the collapse of the three-storey building left children and school staff trapped beneath the rubble. Rescue workers, police personnel and Pakistan Army teams rushed to the scene to recover victims, evacuate the injured and search for anyone who might still be trapped.
Hospital authorities confirmed that the victims included dozens of children aged 14 or younger. The injured were shifted to nearby hospitals, where emergency arrangements were made to provide medical treatment, with some patients reported to be in critical condition.
Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) spokesperson Muhammad Asim said 33 bodies had been brought to the hospital, including 32 children and one female teacher. Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Ibrahim of Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital said the bodies of two children had also been received there.
According to the list issued by LRH, 53 patients were brought to the hospital, including 36 men and 12 women. Seventeen patients were discharged after observation, while 33 had died, the hospital spokesperson said.
An emergency was declared at LRH, with senior hospital officials present in the trauma ward to supervise treatment and ensure that the injured received immediate medical attention.
School owner arrested as negligence probe begins
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Dr Mian Saeed said the school owner had been taken into custody and a case would be registered in connection with the incident.
Speaking to the media, he said the building’s roof appeared to have been poorly constructed and that the structure had several deficiencies. The school had approximately 110 enrolled children, while around 30 students were present in classrooms on the upper floor when the roof collapsed, he added.
The CCPO said the building was situated in narrow streets in the densely populated neighbourhood, making it difficult for emergency vehicles and rescue teams to reach the site and carry out operations.
He said the roof slab had been constructed using choka, a traditional building material consisting of thin, flat clay tiles or specially shaped bricks. The construction method, along with the building’s overall condition, would be examined as part of the investigation.
Dr Saeed warned that the structure appeared to be in a dangerous condition and could pose a risk of further damage. Rescue teams were working to evacuate people from the area and ensure their safety, he said, urging residents to cooperate with the authorities and avoid obstructing rescue operations.
Expressing concern about the possibility of further casualties, the CCPO said the building appeared to have been overloaded and raised questions about the weight the roof slab was capable of bearing.
He said investigators would examine whether building regulations had been violated, determine the extent of any negligence and establish who was responsible for the disaster.
IGP orders inquiry, departments to be scrutinised
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed visited the site and ordered a comprehensive investigation into the collapse.
He said an inquiry committee had been constituted to examine the circumstances surrounding the incident, while the first information report (FIR) would be registered by the state. He added that terrorism-related charges could also be considered in the case against the school owner, subject to the findings and applicable law.
The IGP directed the Special Branch to prepare a report identifying any government departments whose negligence or failure to enforce safety requirements might have contributed to the tragedy.
An official report detailing the lapses of the departments concerned would also be prepared, he said, adding that responsibility would be determined through the investigation and those found culpable would face appropriate legal action.
Hameed also took notice of the incident and directed the CCPO to personally supervise rescue operations. He ordered the immediate and safe recovery of anyone trapped beneath the rubble and instructed the Peshawar Chief Traffic Officer to establish a green corridor for the uninterrupted movement of ambulances.
The IGP further directed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations and police rescue teams to deploy all available resources at the site. He stressed that traffic on routes leading to hospitals must remain clear to ensure the timely transportation of injured children and other victims.
Rescue teams, Army join search operation
Rescue 1122 said ambulances and disaster-response vehicles were dispatched immediately after the incident was reported. Rescue personnel launched an operation to retrieve victims from the debris and transport the injured to hospitals.
The rescue service said the search operation was continuing as teams worked to establish whether additional people remained trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Pakistan Army personnel also reached the site and joined civilian rescue and relief agencies in efforts to recover children and school staff feared to be under the rubble. The teams worked to assist the injured and facilitate their transfer to hospitals.
The narrow streets surrounding the school complicated the operation, forcing rescuers to work carefully while assessing the condition of the remaining structure and the risk of further collapse.
Authorities said the investigation would examine the building’s structural condition, the construction of the roof, compliance with safety regulations and the possible role of negligence in the incident.
President, prime minister express grief over deaths
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep shock and sorrow over the loss of lives in the school roof collapse, describing the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy that had plunged the nation into grief.
In a statement issued by the President’s Secretariat, he extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the deceased to be granted a high place in Jannat-ul-Firdous. He also prayed for strength and patience for the families facing the irreparable loss of their loved ones.
The president prayed for the speedy and complete recovery of those injured and directed the relevant authorities to provide them with the best possible medical facilities. He also called for all-out assistance to be extended to the affected families.
Zardari stressed the need for a comprehensive investigation to determine the causes of the collapse and establish responsibility. He underscored the importance of enforcing safety standards in educational institutions to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed profound grief over the deaths and extended condolences to the families of the victims. He prayed for the elevation of the ranks of those who lost their lives and for patience and strength for their grieving relatives.
The prime minister directed the authorities to accelerate rescue operations and ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured children and other victims.
He subsequently spoke by telephone with Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, conveying his sympathies to the bereaved families and directing the authorities to provide every possible form of assistance to those affected.
During the conversation, Shehbaz sought a detailed report on the incident. Governor Kundi briefed him on the circumstances surrounding the collapse and informed him that the school owner had been arrested and an investigation was under way.
The prime minister directed the authorities to examine every aspect of the incident and ensure that those responsible were proceeded against in accordance with the law.
Ishaq Dar calls children’s deaths a national tragedy
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed deep sorrow over the collapse, saying the loss of children’s lives had deeply pained the entire nation.
In a post on X, Dar said the deaths of children represented an immense national tragedy, emphasising that children were the country’s most precious asset and that every such loss was a tragedy for the entire country.
He extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the deceased to be granted the highest place in Jannah, while asking Allah Almighty to give their families patience and strength to endure their loss.
Dar said the prime minister and the government had taken serious notice of the incident, stressing that the safety and protection of children must remain a top priority.
He called for immediate assistance to affected families, the best possible medical care for the injured and stronger safety standards in schools to prevent similar incidents.
Governor Kundi, police chief and Bilawal offer condolences
Governor Kundi expressed profound grief over the deaths, describing the loss of innocent children’s lives as an extremely painful tragedy.
He prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed the relevant authorities to ensure the provision of the best possible medical facilities. He also sought a detailed report to determine the cause of the collapse and establish responsibility.
IGP Hameed expressed solidarity with the affected families and prayed for the complete recovery of the injured children and teachers. He directed police officials to ensure that rescue operations continued without interruption and that all available resources were deployed to recover those trapped beneath the debris.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed deep sorrow over the incident, saying he was shocked by the tragic news.
Expressing sympathy with parents who had lost their children, Bilawal directed the administration to expedite rescue efforts and ensure the immediate recovery of anyone still trapped beneath the rubble.
He also called for effective arrangements to provide proper medical treatment to the injured at Lady Reading Hospital.
Investigation to determine responsibility
The deadly collapse has raised serious questions about the structural safety of school buildings, enforcement of construction regulations and the effectiveness of inspections in densely populated urban areas.
With the school owner in custody and an inquiry under way, investigators are expected to examine the building’s construction, the condition of its roof, compliance with applicable safety requirements and any possible failures by the relevant authorities.
Officials have pledged to identify those responsible and take action in accordance with the law. The incident has also renewed calls for stronger oversight of educational institutions and urgent safety assessments of school buildings to protect children from preventable disasters.
