33 killed, over 50 injured as school roof collapses in Pakistan’s Peshawar

Islamabad: At least 31 children and two female teachers were killed after the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, while more than 50 others were injured, local media reported, citing Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).

According to the hospital, 53 children were brought in for treatment, most of them boys. Of these, 33 died, while 17 were discharged after being kept under observation, Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported.

All the children were aged 14 or younger, the report said.

Emergency services rushed to the site, with nearly 100 rescuers joining the operation to pull students from the debris. The hospital declared an emergency to treat the injured, some of whom were reported to be in critical condition.

Rescue officials said the roof of an upper floor collapsed onto classrooms below, causing sections of the building to give way. The school’s owner was arrested, and authorities launched an investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed said preliminary findings pointed to a weak structure carrying an overloaded roof. Relatives of the victims called for accountability, alleging that concerns over the building’s condition had been ignored.

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Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences to the bereaved families and called for assistance to those injured.

The incident has raised concerns over school building safety, particularly the structural condition of buildings used by children.

With IANS inputs