Tragic Roof Collapse at Peshawar School Claims Lives of 31 Children
Devastating Incident in Peshawar
Screengrab image shows frantic parents and rescue personnel rushing into the premises of Al Khair School in Peshawar following a tragic roof collapse.
Islamabad, Oct 15: A catastrophic roof collapse at a private school in Peshawar, Pakistan, has resulted in the deaths of at least 31 children and two female teachers, with over 50 others sustaining injuries, as reported by local media citing the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).
According to LRH, 53 children were admitted, predominantly boys, with 33 fatalities confirmed. Seventeen children were discharged after being monitored. All victims were aged 14 or younger, as detailed by a Pakistani daily.
LRH spokesperson Muhammad Asim announced that an emergency was declared at the hospital, with senior officials present in the trauma ward to manage the treatment of the injured, some of whom are in critical condition.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed informed the media that the school's owner has been detained, and a case will be filed regarding the incident. He noted that the roof was poorly constructed and that the school's location in narrow streets complicated rescue efforts. The school had an enrollment of 110 children.
Personnel from the Pakistan army arrived at the scene to assist rescue and relief teams in searching for children and staff believed to be trapped under the rubble.
Roof and building collapses are a frequent issue in Pakistan, attributed to inadequate safety regulations and the use of substandard construction materials, leading to such tragic events.
In August, a couple lost their lives, and their daughters were injured when their house's roof collapsed in Islamabad after three days of heavy rain, as reported by local media.
In July, a three-storey building collapse in Lahore resulted in 11 deaths and six injuries. The building housed three brothers and their families, with a sister and her children visiting for a birthday celebration just before the collapse. An investigation was ordered to ascertain the cause of this incident.
In June, 14 children died when the roof of a private tuition center in Lahore's Kahna area collapsed. This incident occurred less than two months after a classroom roof collapse in Dera Ghazi Khan city, which resulted in four child fatalities and 20 injuries.