Pakistan School Roof Collapse: 33 Dead in Peshawar
At least 33 pupils and a teacher were killed and dozens injured after a private school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan.
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
- A school roof collapse in Peshawar, Pakistan, left 33 pupils and a teacher dead.
- The top-floor roof crashed through three storeys, trapping over 115 students inside.
- Locals and rescue workers rushed to use shovels to dig survivors from the debris.
- The provincial governor has ordered immediate safety audits for all regional schools.
A tragic school building collapse in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar has left at least 33 pupils and a teacher dead, dealing a devastating blow to the local community.
Emergency services rushed to the private Al-Khair school located in Dir Colony at 08:48 local time on Thursday shortly after lessons had commenced. According to rescue officials, the roof of an upper-floor classroom caved in, triggering a cascading structural failure that brought down the ceilings of the classrooms directly below it.
An English teacher from a neighboring school rushed to the scene alongside local residents upon hearing sirens and ambulances, immediately joining efforts to pull trapped children out of the rubble.
"I personally pulled out six children with my own hands. Most of them were alive and talking. But later it was found that they had passed away."
An English teacher from a nearby school
Stock photo for illustration only, not from the actual event
Emergency officials noted that the school building had been constructed on a temporary basis. Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed confirmed that classrooms across three floors were brought down, housing approximately 30 pupils on the top floor, 40 in the middle, and 45 on the ground floor. The school's location on an extremely narrow street further hindered rescue workers trying to reach the site and transport the injured to hospitals.
Frequent structural failures and safety incidents in public and private institutions across Pakistan often highlight systemic gaps in regulatory enforcement and building standards. Recent months have seen multiple tragedies—including a tuition centre roof collapse near Lahore and a fatal neonatal ward fire in Islamabad—underscoring the critical need for strict infrastructural oversight to protect public safety.
Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar reported the deaths of 32 children and one teacher, while Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital reported another child fatality. Describing the remaining structure as extremely dangerous, police urged people to stay away. Meanwhile, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi ordered a comprehensive safety audit of all schools in the province to identify risks and implement corrective measures as grieving families demand accountability.
Source: BBC World
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