At least 14 schoolchildren lost their lives following a roof collapse at a tutoring center in Lahore, Pakistan, as confirmed by emergency officials. Additionally, eight children sustained injuries in the incident and are currently receiving medical care at a nearby hospital, according to senior police official Faisal Kamran, who also mentioned the arrest of the tutoring center owner and another individual.
Rescuers are actively searching through the debris amid concerns of more children being trapped under the rubble, stated Mr. Kamran. The tutoring center, situated in an old building, experienced the collapse of the roof on an unfinished second floor due to inadequate construction quality.
President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan expressed sorrow over the collapse at the evening school building. He extended condolences to the victims’ families, wished a swift recovery for the injured, and emphasized the necessity of implementing effective safety measures to avert similar tragedies.
Building collapses are a recurrent issue in Pakistan, where construction standards are frequently disregarded. Many structures are constructed using substandard materials, and safety protocols are often overlooked to cut expenses.
Eyewitnesses reported the swift arrival of ambulances and rescue teams following the roof collapse. Local residents also joined the rescue efforts, utilizing shovels and bare hands to clear debris in attempts to reach children trapped beneath the wreckage.
Subsequently, during the handover of the children’s bodies to their families, scenes of grief unfolded outside hospitals and within the vicinity of the tutoring center located in a residential area on the outskirts of Lahore. Most of the victims resided nearby, with funeral prayers expected to be held later in the day.
Residents expressed a mix of grief and anger, urging severe repercussions for the tutoring center owner, whom they held responsible for conducting classes in an aging and unsafe structure. A multitude of mourners gathered outside the victims’ homes to offer condolences.
Lahore, the capital of Pakistan’s Punjab province, sees many parents enrolling their children in private tutoring centers during the afternoon and evening for additional education.
