A tragic incident unfolded in northwestern Pakistan when the roof of a private school collapsed, resulting in the death of at least 28 children and a female teacher, with over 50 others injured. Among the deceased were six girls. Rescue operations were in full swing in Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, as some children remained trapped under the debris.
Hospital officials confirmed the casualties, noting that several of the injured individuals were in critical condition. The victims were all children aged 13 or younger, prompting the hospital to declare an emergency to address the influx of wounded individuals. Following a comprehensive rescue effort, all individuals trapped under the rubble were successfully evacuated, and efforts to clear the debris were underway.
The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, expressed deep sadness over the incident and called for an investigation into the collapse’s cause. He emphasized the importance of providing top-notch medical care to the injured children. Mahwish Zaman, a teacher injured in the collapse, recounted the harrowing experience of being in the classroom when the roof caved in, likening it to the sky falling.
Residents mobilized swiftly to aid in the rescue efforts, with individuals like Samiullah Khan recounting their efforts to save trapped individuals, including his own son. The collapse prompted the arrest of the building owner, with authorities citing structural weaknesses as a contributing factor. The provincial government formed a committee to probe the incident further.
Government officials, including the provincial government spokeswoman Samar Haroon Bilour, lauded the rapid response of rescue teams and emphasized the commitment to utilizing all available resources to ensure the safety of those trapped. Meanwhile, national leaders in Islamabad, including President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressed condolences to the affected families and called for thorough investigations to prevent similar tragedies.
The collapse serves as a grim reminder of a previous incident in Lahore, where a roof collapse at a tutoring center claimed the lives of four schoolchildren. Building collapses remain a prevalent issue in Pakistan due to lax enforcement of construction standards, the use of substandard materials, and the disregard for safety regulations to cut costs.
