In brief
A roof at the private Al‑Khair school in Peshawar collapsed at 8:48 a.m., crushing classrooms on three floors and causing 34 deaths, including 33 pupils and a teacher. The collapse, caused by overloaded, substandard roof slabs, left many injured and some children trapped beneath the rubble. Emergency responders faced access challenges due to the school's narrow street location, and local residents assisted in rescue efforts. Authorities are launching investigations into building‑code violations and ordering safety audits for all schools in the province.
At least 34 people – 33 pupils and a teacher – lost their lives when a roof collapsed at the Al‑Khair private school in Peshawar on Thursday morning.
Hospital officials say additional injuries were reported, with several children feared trapped under the rubble. The roof of the upper‑floor classroom collapsed at 8:48 a.m. (03:48 GMT), sending debris into the classrooms below.
A rescue official, Bilal Faizi, explained that the building was temporary and its roof slabs were “substandard”. Police chief Mian Saeed confirmed that classrooms on three floors were involved, and that the structure was “overloaded”.
The narrow street that houses the school limited access, complicating emergency response. Residents – including an English teacher – joined emergency teams, pulling students from the wreckage, though many later succumbed. Clean‑up crews have begun clearing debris.
Police chief Saeed called the incident a case of “gross negligence” and said an inquiry into building‑code violations would be launched. The owner of the school has been arrested; province governor Faisal Karim Kundi ordered a safety audit of all schools in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.
The tragedy follows earlier disasters in the country, including a collapse that killed 14 children in Lahore and a fatal fire that claimed 14 newborns in Islamabad.
