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At least 30 people, including 28 children and two female teachers, died when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar on Thursday, according to a hospital spokesperson. More than 30 others suffered injuries.
Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) spokesperson Muhammad Asim said the hospital had declared an emergency. Senior officials were supervising treatment in the trauma ward, where some injured children remained in critical condition.
“All the children were aged 13 or younger,” Asim said.
Rescue 1122 dispatched ambulances and disaster response vehicles to the scene. Rescue teams began searching the rubble and transferring injured children to hospitals.
Authorities feared the death toll could rise as rescuers searched for people trapped beneath the debris. Pakistan Army personnel also joined rescue agencies at the site.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Dr Mian Saeed told the media that police had taken the school owner into custody. He said authorities would register a case over the incident.
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Saeed said the three-storey building stood in Dir Colony, a densely populated area of Peshawar. Narrow streets around the school complicated rescue operations.
The school had 110 enrolled students, according to the CCPO. He added that 30 children had been in classrooms on the upper floor when the roof collapsed.
Saeed also raised concerns about the building’s construction. He said the structure had several deficiencies and described the roof slab as being made with choka, a material involving thin, flat clay tiles or specially shaped bricks.
The police chief warned that the damaged building remained dangerous and could suffer further damage. He urged people to cooperate with rescuers as teams worked to remove those trapped and secure the site.
Saeed said investigators would examine whether the building had exceeded its load-bearing capacity and determine which construction regulations, if any, had been violated. Authorities would conduct a formal inquiry to establish the cause of the collapse and identify those responsible for any negligence.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths and offered condolences to the victims’ families.
In a statement, the prime minister prayed for the deceased and asked Allah Almighty to give their families patience and strength. He also prayed for the injured children’s speedy recovery.
Shehbaz directed the authorities to provide the injured with the best possible medical care. He also called for rescue operations to move forward without delay.
Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed sorrow over the deaths and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families.
“The loss of precious lives of innocent children is an extremely painful tragedy,” he said.
Kundi prayed for the injured children’s recovery and directed the relevant authorities to ensure proper medical facilities. He also sought a detailed report on the collapse and called for an investigation into its cause.
“May Allah Almighty grant the martyred children a place in His mercy and give their bereaved families the strength to bear this loss,” the governor said.
K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed took notice of the incident and directed CCPO Mian Saeed to supervise rescue operations personally.
Hameed ordered police and rescue teams to recover anyone trapped beneath the rubble as quickly and safely as possible. He also instructed the Peshawar Chief Traffic Officer to establish a green corridor for ambulances.
The IGP directed traffic officials to keep routes leading to hospitals clear. He also ordered the SSP Operations and police rescue teams to use all available resources at the site.
Hameed expressed solidarity with the affected families and prayed for the full recovery of the injured children and teachers.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed deep sorrow over the deaths.
Bilawal said he was shocked by the tragedy and acknowledged the grief of parents who had lost their children. He urged the administration to accelerate rescue operations and recover anyone still trapped beneath the rubble.
He also called for effective arrangements to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured at Lady Reading Hospital.
Rescue teams continued their efforts as authorities worked to account for those affected, treat the injured and determine what caused the school building to collapse.
