The roof of a private school in Peshawar’s Afridi Abad collapsed on Thursday, killing 33. The deceased included 32 students — between the ages of seven and 14 — and a female teacher.
Pakistan has witnessed several incidents of structural collapses at educational institutions in recent years, resulting in the deaths and injuries of students, teachers and other staff members. Here is a timeline of reported incidents over the past five years.
Sep 11, 2026 — Karachi, Sindh
Five people were killed and two others injured when a wall of a dilapidated government school building collapsed on them in Orangi Town’s Sector 11. The school was closed at the time of the incident.
July 2, 2026 — Lahore, Punjab
A child died and at least five others were injured after the roof of an under-construction private school building collapsed in the Baghbanpura neighbourhood.
The school administration was constructing a two-marla structure to expand its existing 14-marla building. The roof collapsed during the construction work, sending debris onto the boy and others, including a motorcyclist and several labourers.
June 30, 2026 — Lahore, Punjab
In Lahore’s Kahna area, 14 children were killed while several others were injured when the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed.
A statement by the Edhi rescue service, which took part in the rescue operation, said that the roof “collapsed suddenly”.
Lahore District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tariq Mahmood said the building housed a private tuition centre and was run by a woman resident of the area.
June 30, 2026 — Umerkot, Sindh
Three girls, aged 3 to 13, were killed after a portion of the outer wall of a government primary school near Umerkot collapsed and the rubble fell on them.
The girls were returning home after attending a nearby seminary. While they were passing by the wall, it suddenly collapsed, locals said, adding that the girls died before they could be rescued from under the rubble.
May 7, 2026 — Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab
At least four children were killed and 20 people were injured after the roof of a classroom at a private school collapsed. The injured included 16 students, two teachers and as many labourers.
A probe into the incident revealed that construction for an extension of the building was underway when the roof of the classroom collapsed.
February 2026 — Sialkot, Punjab
A student of Government Girls Higher Secondary School Bediana in Sialkot district was buried under the rubble of an under-construction structure that collapsed on her.
The authorities registered a case against District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer Mujahid Hussain, school principal Kalsoom and the contractor following the incident.
June 30, 2025 — Multan, Punjab
Several girls were injured when the roof of a madressah collapsed.
Rescue personnel pulled the girls trapped beneath the rubble out. Four girls were treated at the site, while five others received first aid before being shifted to Nishtar Hospital.
Sep 26, 2024 — Muzaffargarh, Punjab
A student died while six of his class fellows were critically injured when the roof of a private school collapsed in Wesandywali village. The incident happened at the Aligarh Public School.
The owner had started the construction of a room on the upper floor without seeking permission. The ceiling of the old classroom could not bear the weight and collapsed.
Aug 30, 2024 — Khairpur, Sindh
Twelve students suffered head injuries when a large chunk of concrete plaster fell from the ceiling of a government high school classroom in Basiro village, Khairpur district.
A viral video showed large, brick-sized chunks of concrete scattered across classroom desks, while students with bloodied heads and faces were being rescued and taken to hospitals.
July 2, 2024 —Swat, KP
Six children were injured when the roof of a classroom collapsed in Tangaar village, in Gwalerai Union Council of Swat’s Matta tehsil.
The incident occurred in a nursery classroom at a private school. One of the walls collapsed before the roof caved in.
May 9, 2024 — Layyah, Punjab
Eight children were injured when the roof of their classroom collapsed at a private school in Chak 344/TDA, in Chaubara tehsil of Layyah district.
The children were attending a pre-school class at Al-Rahman Grammar School when the roof collapsed on them.
Feb 21, 2024 — Jacobabad, Sindh
Four young students were injured when plaster fell from the ceiling of their classroom at the main government primary school for boys in Jacobabad.
Teachers at the school said that plaster had fallen from the ceiling of a Grade Three classroom. The school building was in a dilapidated condition.
July 4, 2023 — Okara, Punjab
The roofs of three rooms and a portion of the veranda at the Government Elementary School collapsed just days before Eidul Azha, during summer vacation.
The village school catered to 900 students. The affected area consisted of three rooms and a veranda used by the middle section students, totaling 300 in number.
June 27, 2023 — Bannu, KP
Three seminary students were killed and two others injured when a room’s roof collapsed in Bannu. The roof caved in when some workers were busy spreading clay over it to prevent leaks during rains.
An official said many parts of the district had received heavy rain the previous night, and the roof of the seminary collapsed due to absorption of rainwater.
Aug 26, 2022 — Muzaffargarh, Punjab
At least 14 students were injured, 12 of them seriously, when the roof of a classroom collapsed in a private school in the Jinnah Garden locality.
At the affected school, 65 students were studying from nursery to 5th grade.
Oct 22, 2021 — Jhelum, Punjab
Two students were killed and 20 other people — 16 students and four teachers — were injured when the wall of a school collapsed during an event inside the school situated along the GT Road in Jhelum.
The students who died were both aged 15.
June 7, 2021 — Lahore, Punjab
A schoolboy was killed and three others were injured when the boundary wall of a private school collapsed on College Road in the Green Town area.
A police official said the children were playing near the wall when it collapsed. Four of them were trapped under the debris. One died on the spot, while the other three suffered injuries.
Header image: Residents gather during a search operation after a roof collapsed at a school in Peshawar on October 15, 2026. —AFP