School roof collapse kills teacher and 32 children in Peshawar

At least 32 pupils and one teacher died on Thursday when a roof collapsed at a school in Peshawar, northwest Pakistan. Asim Khan of Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar confirmed the toll to AFP. Over 30 people were injured, and six were believed to be in critical condition.

Rescue efforts and possible cause

Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesperson for the emergency rescue service in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said that schoolchildren were crushed and trapped after the roof gave way. He explained that when Rescue 1122 teams arrived, they found one roof had collapsed onto another, crushing the classroom below. Faizi added there were concerns more children might still be trapped beneath the rubble. Sixteen ambulances, two disaster response vehicles, and more than 60 personnel were deployed to the site. Images released by emergency services showed rescue workers in high-vis vests moving debris and dirt.

Resident Sher Ahmed blamed substandard construction materials and called for an investigation. “With profound grief and sorrow, I urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and take strict action against anyone found responsible so that such tragedies can be prevented in the future,” he said. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow and offered condolences to the bereaved families. President Asif Ali Zardari called the collapse a “heartbreaking tragedy,” saying the entire nation shares the sorrow of the affected families. Roof and building collapses are common across Pakistan due to poor safety standards and shoddy construction materials.