Peshawar School Roof Collapse Kills 32 Students and Teacher; Owner Arrested

PESHAWAR: At least 33 people, including 32 students and a female teacher, were killed when the roof of Al-Khair Public School collapsed in Peshawar’s Dir Colony on Thursday morning, officials confirmed. Most of the children were between six and 14 years old.

Police arrested the private school’s owner and opened an inquiry, while Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi ordered an immediate investigation and a province-wide structural safety audit of schools.

Emergency services were alerted at 08:48 local time. Rescue workers and residents searched the rubble for hours to reach children trapped inside the building.

Hospital sources said 53 patients were brought to Lady Reading Hospital. Of these, 33 died, three remained under observation and 17 were discharged after treatment.

School owner arrested as inquiry begins

Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed confirmed the owner’s arrest and said an inquiry had begun. Police warned that “the building is extremely dangerous and there is a risk of further collapse.”

Initial investigations suggested that heavy rainfall had caused the roof of the two-storey building to collapse. Officials said the structure appeared dilapidated and might have been further weakened by recent rains.

A local official said the school operated in a narrow street where only one vehicle could pass at a time, hampering rescue efforts.

Victims buried after funeral prayers

Following post-mortem examinations and legal formalities, the bodies were handed over to their families. Funeral prayers were held in the locality, attended by relatives, residents, teachers, students’ family members and local elders.

The 33 victims, including the teacher, were later buried in the local graveyard. Local reports described scenes of deep mourning, with participants demanding strict action against those responsible for the collapse.

Residents and local authorities assisted with security and burial arrangements. Mourners also called for urgent safety inspections of private schools across the province.

President and prime minister demand investigation

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed profound shock and grief, saying the tragedy had shocked the nation. He directed authorities to ensure the best possible treatment for the injured and called for a comprehensive investigation into safety standards at educational buildings.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif offered condolences to the bereaved families and directed authorities to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.

“There should be no compromise whatsoever on the safety of children in educational institutions,” he said, calling for a transparent investigation to prevent similar tragedies.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar also expressed grief and emphasised that children’s safety and protection must remain paramount.

KP governor orders school safety audit

Governor Faisal Karim Kundi directed provincial authorities to submit a comprehensive report on the structural failure without delay. He also instructed hospital administrations to provide the best possible medical facilities to injured children.

The governor commissioned a structural safety audit of all schools across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to identify risks and ensure immediate corrective measures where needed.

“We cannot allow the safety of our children to be compromised,” he said.

Parliament offers condolences

A joint sitting of Parliament offered Fateha for the children and teacher who died. Addressing the session, National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq cited a toll of more than 20 students, aged around 13.

Senator Abid Sher Ali described the incident as extremely painful and said it had plunged the nation into mourning. The All Pakistan Private Schools’ Federation also issued a statement expressing deep grief.

The collapse has renewed concerns about building safety in Pakistan’s private education sector, where many schools operate on limited budgets in buildings without adequate safety measures.