PESHAWAR: Students at a private school in Peshawar had complained to their principal that their classroom was shaking before the building collapsed, according to details disclosed in the first information report (FIR) registered over the tragedy.
At least 33 children and two teachers were killed, while 52 others were injured when the roof of Al-Khair Education System in the city’s Dir Colony area collapsed on Thursday.
According to the FIR, substandard construction materials were used in the building, which was described as dilapidated and structurally unsafe.
Complaints had been raised earlier about the deteriorating condition of the school’s walls and roofs, but the management allegedly failed to address the concerns despite repeated complaints from students.
The FIR further revealed that the first floor had a concrete structure, while the roof of the second floor was constructed using wood, bamboo and mud. The building had reportedly been erected on steel girders.
Construction work was underway on a veranda for a proposed third floor when the building collapsed, according to the initial findings.
Preliminary investigations indicated that the roof of a nursery classroom on the second floor and the roofs of rooms on the ground floor collapsed in the incident.
School owner arrested after deadly roof collapse claims at least 35 lives in Peshawar
Police said the school occupied a 16-marla plot owned by Waheed and Javed. The land was reportedly leased in 2024, when construction of the school building began.
School Owner Arrested
Police have arrested the owner of the school, the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar confirmed.
According to the CCPO, the institution had been operating under the name of an educational trust. He said poor construction of the school building had contributed to the tragedy.
Police have registered a case against the school owners, shareholders and the contractor responsible for constructing the building. The FIR includes charges relating to causing death by negligence and other provisions, including Sections 148, 322 and 149 of the Pakistan Penal Code.
Police said efforts were underway to arrest the other nominated suspects.