In brief
A roof collapse at the Al‑Khair school in Peshawar killed more than 30 pupils and a teacher. The incident, which began when the upper‑floor roof gave way amid ongoing classes, left rescue workers and residents trapped under debris. Authorities arrested the school owner and are investigating potential building code violations, while the governor has ordered a safety audit of all schools in the province. Similar tragedies across Pakistan highlight the urgent need for stricter safety regulations.
At least 33 students and a teacher have lost their lives in a tragic roof collapse in the north‑western Pakistani city of Peshawar, according to hospital reports. The incident occurred early on Thursday morning at the private Al‑Khair school in Dir Colony.
Emergency services were dispatched at 08:48 local time (03:48 GMT) as classes were already in session. Rescue worker Bilal Faizi said the collapse began with an upper‑floor classroom roof giving way, causing ceilings below to cave in and bury students in debris.
Police chief Mian Saeed announced the arrest of the school’s owner and promised a thorough inquiry into possible building code violations. He said the structure had “substandard” roof slabs and was overloaded beyond its load limit.
Local residents and an English teacher from a neighbouring school rushed to the scene after hearing emergency sirens. They and other volunteers used shovels to dig out more than 20 children, but many were found dead in the rubble.
Emergency official Arif Khattak confirmed that the school was built on temporary foundations. The top floor’s roof collapse sent falling rubble through three adjoining classrooms, which also suffered collapsed ceilings.
The school’s narrow street location impeded evacuation and medical transport. Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar later recorded 32 child deaths and one teacher, while the Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital listed an additional child casualty.
In response, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi ordered a safety audit of all schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to identify and remedy potential risks. “We cannot allow the safety of our children to be compromised,” he said.
Families grieving the loss accused the school of ignoring safety concerns. Mohammad Zaman, who lost two nephews, said, “Make an example of them, a lesson for all.”
Pakistan has seen similar tragedies: in June a private tuition centre near Lahore lost fourteen students to a roof collapse, and in August a neonatal unit in Islamabad claimed fourteen newborn lives due to a fire linked to missing safety equipment.
The Peshawar collapse underscores the urgent need for stringent building inspections and emergency preparedness in schools across the country.
