PESHAWAR – At least 30 people, including 28 children and two female teachers, have died after the roof of Al-Khair School System collapsed in Peshawar’s Dir Colony, while dozens of others were injured.
Rescue 1122 said emergency teams, ambulances and disaster response vehicles were dispatched to the site shortly after the incident. Rescue personnel launched an operation to pull students and teachers from beneath the rubble and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
More than 40 injured students and teachers were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), where emergency measures were put in place to treat the victims.
Another group of 33 injured children and the body of one child were taken to Nasirullah Babar Memorial Hospital, according to hospital administration.
LRH spokesperson Muhammad Asim said 17 children had initially been brought to the hospital dead. He added that all the children affected by the incident were aged 13 or younger. Some of the injured were reported to be in critical condition.
Prime Minister, KP governor express grief
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the bereaved families. He prayed for the deceased and called for the speedy recovery of those injured, while directing authorities to ensure that victims received the best possible medical treatment.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed his condolences, describing the deaths of innocent children as a deeply painful tragedy. He urged the relevant authorities to provide appropriate medical facilities to the injured and requested a detailed report on the incident.
Army joins rescue efforts
Personnel from the Pakistan Army joined Rescue 1122 and other emergency agencies in the operation to recover children and school staff from the debris.
Rescue teams continued removing rubble and shifting those recovered from the site to hospitals for treatment.
School owner taken into custody
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed confirmed that the school owner had been taken into custody following the incident.
According to the police official, the school’s roofs were in a dilapidated condition. He said a case would be registered in connection with the tragedy.
The officer also pointed out that the school was situated in narrow streets, creating additional difficulties for emergency teams attempting to reach the site and carry out rescue operations.
He further stated that approximately 110 children were enrolled at the school.
