More than 30 pupils and a teacher have died after a school roof collapsed in the north-western Pakistani city of Peshawar.
Hospital officials confirmed that at least 33 children and one teacher were killed in the incident. More than a dozen others were injured, with some reported to be in a critical condition.
Emergency services responded to the private Al-Khair school in Dir Colony at 08:48 local time (03:48 GMT) on Thursday, shortly after lessons had commenced. Rescue official Bilal Faizi told the BBC that the roof of an upper-floor classroom had given way, causing the ceilings below to collapse and trapping children beneath the debris.
Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed announced the arrest of the school's owner and pledged a comprehensive inquiry into potential violations of building codes. He later confirmed that classrooms across three floors had been affected by the collapse, contradicting earlier reports of a two-storey incident.
Initial estimates suggested around 30 pupils were in the top class, 40 in the middle, and 45 on the ground floor. Police chief Saeed indicated that the entire structure, which featured "substandard" roof slabs, was "overloaded" and had exceeded its weight-bearing capacity.
Local residents and teachers from nearby schools immediately rushed to the scene to assist with rescue efforts after hearing sirens and ambulances. An English teacher, who preferred not to be named, recounted pulling more than 20 children from the rubble with others. "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," he said, describing the scene as having "a lot of blood." He recalled one child in significant pain, with a "dried up" tongue, asking for water.
Another local resident, Sohail, described using shovels to try and remove children from beneath the collapsed structure.
Emergency official Arif Khattak stated that the school building had been constructed on a temporary basis. The narrowness of the street where the school is located posed significant challenges for rescue workers, hindering their access to the site and the swift transportation of the injured to hospitals.
Lady Reading Hospital reported the deaths of 32 children and one teacher, while Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital confirmed one child's death. Police chief Saeed cautioned that the building remained "extremely dangerous" and urged people to keep their distance.
Furious family members of the deceased pupils have accused the school of neglecting safety concerns. Mohammad Zaman, who lost two nephews in the disaster, told Reuters news agency, "Make an example of them, a lesson for all."
In response to the tragedy, the Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, has ordered a safety audit of all schools within the province. The audit aims to "identify potential risks and ensure that immediate corrective measures are taken wherever necessary." Governor Kundi emphasised, "We cannot allow the safety of our children to be compromised."
This incident is not isolated in Pakistan. In June, 14 children died following the collapse of a private tuition centre roof near Lahore. Just two months later, in August, 14 newborn babies were killed by a fire in a neonatal unit at a hospital in Islamabad. An inquiry into the hospital fire later revealed a lack of fire alarms and sprinklers in the facility.
