Seventeen killed, 40 injured in Peshawar school roof collapse

PESHAWAR: At least seventeen children were killed and 40 others injured when the roof of a private school collapsed in Dir Colony, Peshawar, on Thursday, Rescue 1122 said. The injured included students and teachers.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi said emergency teams shifted around 40 children to nearby hospitals for medical treatment. Seventeen fatalities were confirmed by Lady Reading Hospital, he added.

Rescue personnel launched an operation at the site to search for people who may still be trapped beneath the rubble. Earlier, the rescue service had reported that more than 10 children were given first aid and taken to hospitals, while several others were feared trapped.

The incident has renewed concerns about the safety of school buildings and construction standards in Pakistan, where structural collapses have repeatedly caused casualties. Poor maintenance, inadequate safety measures and the use of substandard construction materials have been identified as major risks in such incidents.

In July, three girls aged between three and 13 died after part of the outer wall of a government primary school collapsed near Umerkot, burying them under the debris. That same month, a child was killed and at least five people were injured when the roof of an under-construction private school building collapsed in Lahore’s Baghbanpura area.

Earlier in June, 14 children lost their lives when the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna neighbourhood. The tragedy followed another school roof collapse in Dera Ghazi Khan, where four children were killed and 20 people injured.

An investigation into the Dera Ghazi Khan incident found that construction work was being carried out to extend the tuition centre when the classroom roof gave way.

The latest tragedy in Peshawar has once again highlighted the need for effective building inspections, compliance with construction regulations and stronger safety measures at educational institutions to prevent further loss of life.