A report by Peshawar’s Capital Metropolitan Government has revealed that a school building that collapsed in Dir Colony originally served as a residential structure. The private school building collapsed on October 15, killing 35 people, including 34 children and a female teacher.
According to the report, the owners never originally designed the building for educational purposes. Investigators found a temporary, makeshift structure on the first-floor roof. Workers had used wooden planks and placed bricks on top to form the roof.
Read more: Report on Peshawar school collapse sent to police chief
The report explained that the roof could not support the combined weight of children and furniture. The excessive load caused the structure to give way, triggering the deadly collapse. These findings have raised serious questions about the building’s suitability for use as a school.
The Capital Metropolitan Government also found no approved building map in its records. The report traced the building’s construction to 2011, when Town Four’s Tehsil Municipal Administration managed the area. However, officials did not identify any visible signs of danger on the building’s exterior.
The report added that the planning control inspector did not flag the building because its exterior showed no obvious hazards. This oversight highlights how the building’s outward appearance concealed potential risks within its structure and roof.
Read more: School Roof Collapse
The report also clarified that the Private Schools Regulatory Authority oversees the regulation, supervision and monitoring of private schools across the province. Its responsibilities include ensuring proper oversight of educational institutions. The findings have renewed concerns about school safety standards and the effectiveness of regulatory monitoring.
The Dir Colony school collapse has intensified scrutiny of the building’s original purpose and construction. The report highlights the makeshift roof and the missing building plan in official records. The tragedy has also raised concerns about whether authorities adequately ensure safe learning environments for children.