At least 17 students and one teacher were killed after the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar on Thursday, with dozens of others injured as rescuers searched the rubble for survivors.
The victims, all of the children reportedly aged 13 or younger, were taken to Lady Reading Hospital, where they were pronounced dead, hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim said. More than a dozen injured people were also brought to the hospital, with some reported to be in critical condition.
The collapse occurred at a private school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony. Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the scene and launched an operation to recover students and school staff trapped beneath the debris. Local reports said more than 30 injured people were taken to hospital, while officials warned that the death toll could rise as the search continued.
The cause of the collapse was not immediately known. Authorities had yet to announce whether structural weaknesses, construction defects or other factors were responsible.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the families of the victims. He directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for those injured in the incident.
The tragedy comes just months after another devastating roof collapse involving children. On June 30, 14 children were killed when the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area. An inquiry later found that the centre was operating in a residential building and was not registered with any government authority. Police subsequently investigated the incident as a case of negligence.
Earlier in March, three children were also killed when the roof of a dilapidated house collapsed during heavy rain in Bannu district, while two others were injured.
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The repeated incidents have renewed concerns over the safety of buildings used for education and the enforcement of construction and building-safety standards in Pakistan.
