PESHAWAR: A school roof collapse in Peshawar’s Dir Colony killed 35 people, including 33 children and two teachers, and injured more than 25 others. Five injured people were reported to be in critical condition after the roof of a private school collapsed, trapping students and teachers beneath the debris.
The incident occurred at Al-Khair Education System on Thursday morning. Rescue officials said they received the first report at around 9am. Approximately 110 children were reportedly present in the school building when the roof gave way.
Rescue Teams Recover Victims from School Rubble
Rescue 1122 teams, police personnel, Edhi volunteers and local residents rushed to the scene. They worked together to recover children and teachers trapped beneath the rubble and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
The collapse brought down the upper-floor roof and the ceiling below it, burying students and female teachers inside two classrooms.
According to the administration of Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), emergency teams brought 53 people to the hospital, including 36 boys and 12 girls. Thirty-three people, including two teachers, died at LRH, while two others died at Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital on Ring Road.
The combined death toll reached 35, according to the reported figures.
Hospital authorities said 17 injured people were discharged after receiving medical treatment. Five others remained under specialised care, while doctors continued treating the remaining injured patients.
Prime Minister Seeks Report on Peshawar School Collapse
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif telephoned Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi to express his grief over the loss of life and request a detailed report on the incident.
Kundi briefed the prime minister on the circumstances surrounding the collapse. He said authorities had arrested the school owner and launched an investigation.
The governor later visited the site and said an inquiry team had been formed to determine the cause of the collapse and identify those responsible.
He said investigators would examine who issued the school’s no-objection certificate (NOC) and whether the building met the required safety standards. Kundi also pledged legal action against anyone found responsible for the deaths.
Government Announces Compensation for Victims
Kundi announced financial assistance of 1 million rupees (about $3,597) for each family that lost a relative in the tragedy. The government would also provide 200,000 rupees (about $719) to each injured person.
The announcement followed a collective funeral prayer attended by the governor, PML-N leader Malik Tariq Awan, police officials, bereaved families and local residents.
The tragedy left Dir Colony and neighbouring areas in mourning, as families gathered at hospitals and the school to seek information about their children.
Investigation to Examine School Building Safety
The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances that led to the roof collapse and determine whether negligence or violations of building safety requirements contributed to the disaster.
Authorities have also pledged to examine the school’s approval documents and the process through which it obtained its NOC.
The findings could help establish accountability for the deaths and clarify whether the building complied with applicable safety regulations.
