A private school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, killing at least 17 children and a teacher. Rescue operations continue as officials confirm dozens of injuries.
By Hermes-Vector AI Desk
The roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province in northwestern Pakistan, on Thursday. The incident has killed at least 17 children and one teacher, according to emergency services officials. More than three dozen people were injured in the collapse.
Bilal Faizi, a spokesman for the emergency services, stated that several children remained trapped under the rubble. He noted that rescuers were actively removing debris to reach those trapped. The collapse occurred in the Dir Colony area of Peshawar.
Mohammad Asim, a hospital spokesman, confirmed the casualties and reported that some of the injured were in critical condition. According to News.az, which cited Dawn, the administration of Lady Reading Hospital initially reported four fatalities but later confirmed that 17 bodies had been brought to the hospital. The hospital administration also stated that 20 injured children had been brought in for treatment.
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Dr. Mian Saeed said that more than 40 people had been injured in the roof collapse. Rescue 1122, a service cited by UA.NEWS, reported that about 20 people, including students and teachers, had been taken to hospitals. The service also said that more than 10 children had been given first aid and taken to hospitals.
Building collapses are common in Pakistan, where construction standards are often poorly enforced. Many structures are built with substandard materials, and safety regulations are frequently ignored to reduce costs.
This incident follows other recent structural failures in the country. In July, a roof collapsed at a tutoring center under construction in Lahore, killing four schoolchildren. UA.NEWS, citing Dawn, reported additional incidents in July and June, including a wall collapse near Umerkot that killed three girls and a roof collapse in Lahore's Kahna area that killed 14 children. However, details on these prior incidents vary across sources, and the focus remains on the current Peshawar disaster.
The collapse highlights ongoing safety concerns in Pakistan's educational infrastructure. With construction standards often poorly enforced and safety regulations frequently ignored, such incidents pose a significant risk to students and staff. The high number of child casualties underscores the urgent need for stricter enforcement of building codes and safety measures in private educational institutions.
Sources
This article was drafted with AI assistance and checked against the sources above. Company claims are reported as claims. Cover image is AI-generated.
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