PESHAWAR: The roof of a private school building collapsed in a densely populated locality in Dir Colony, killing atleast 35 pupils and two teachers and leaving 47 other injured here on Wednesday.
The incident occurred around 8:45 when more than 110 children were in the school building, police and Rescue 1122 officials said.
Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the site and started pulling the dead bodies of children and injured from the rubble.
Rescue teams were faced with difficulties to shift the dead bodies to nearby Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar and injured due to densely populated and narrow streets where the school is being located.
Owner of the school was arrested and police started an investigation into the incident.
CCPO Peshawar Dr Mian Saeed while talking to media confirmed the death of 20 school children including a teacher and 47 injured in the incident.
According to the spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital Medical Teaching Institution (MTI), Muhammad Asim, 17 children and a woman teacher were brought dead to Lady Reading Hospital after the roof of a private school collapsed in Dir Colony, Peshawar.
The spokesperson further confirmed that more than 45 injured children and teachers had also been brought to the hospital.
He added that an emergency had been declared and the hospital administration was present in the trauma unit to oversee the response.
The spokesperson said the injured children were receiving immediate medical treatment, adding that some were in critical condition.
He said all the children were aged up to 13.
According to rescue officials, most of the injured were children about the age of 13 years and staff members of the Al-Khair School System.
They were shifted to Lady Reading Hospital Medical Teaching Institution (MTI) in Peshawar.
Rescue workers reached the scene and began an operation to clear the rubble and evacuate the injured. The possibility that more children remain trapped has raised concerns as the search continues.
Pakistan Army personnel took part in the rescue operation alongside Rescue 1122 teams and other relief departments after a school roof collapsed in Peshawar’s Dir Colony.
Army men cleared the debris and reached those who may still be trapped.
The incident has prompted expressions of grief from national and provincial leaders, as well as calls for a full investigation and stronger safety measures in educational institutions.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has sought a report on the incident. He expressed sorrow over the deaths and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured children.
The province’s Secretary of Elementary and Secondary Education, Inayatullah Wasim, has also taken notice of the incident.
He has asked the managing director of the Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA), Javed Iqbal, to submit a report by the following day.
The secretary also directed the authority to take action against private schools operating in buildings with inadequate safety standards.
KP Governor Advisor on information Samar Haroon Bilour talking to media at Lady Reading Hospital Peshawar said today an unfortunate and awful incident had happened, and lost lives of innocent children.
Samar Bilour expressed solidarity with parents and relatives of all children who died in this incident and said the government stands with the bereaved families in their time testing situation.
She said the government is trying to adopt such a procedure wherein the legal action to be taken and no difficulty could occur.
She said dead bodies of children would be handed over to parents as per their convenience. She said those people responsible for this unpleasant incident would be strictly held accountable.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep shock and grief over the deaths and injuries among pupils and teachers.
He said the tragedy had left the entire nation mourning and prayed for the early and full recovery of those injured.
The President directed the relevant authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and provide all possible assistance to affected families.
President Zaradri also called for a comprehensive investigation to establish the cause of the collapse and stressed the need to ensure that school buildings meet safety standards to prevent similar incidents in future.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed sorrow over the tragedy and prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured. He directed the administration to accelerate rescue operations.
Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi offered condolences to the affected families, saying that the nation shared their grief.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of pupils and teachers in the collapse at a private school in Dir Colony.
He said news of the incident had left him deeply shocked and acknowledged the pain of the parents who had lost their children.
Bilawal also called for effective arrangements to ensure proper treatment for the injured taken to Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar.
Copyright Business Recorder, 2026