The collapse of a school roof in Peshawar in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan claimed at least 34 lives. According to reports, among the deceased are 32 students and one teacher. The Nasirullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital has also reported the death of another child.
Details of the Incident and the Condition of the Injured
In this incident, which occurred at a private school located in the Dir Colony area of Peshawar, several others were injured. Officials have stated that most of the students who lost their lives were under the age of 13. The rescue operation, which began this morning, has now concluded.
Read more: Escalation of Tensions in the Strait of Hormuz and Concerns of a Wider War
Peshawar police have confirmed that the owner of the school, Al-Khair, has been arrested and investigations have commenced. The exact cause of the roof collapse of this educational center is still unclear. According to one of the rescue officials, the collapse of the roof of one of the upper floors caused the roof of the first floor to fall on the students who were present in the classrooms.
Investigations into Building Safety
Dr. Mian Saeed, a police official in Peshawar, told reporters that this three-story building was located on a narrow street and the roofs were constructed with substandard concrete beams. Three classrooms were damaged in this incident, and approximately 110 students were studying in these classes.
Mr. Saeed added that “excessive” weight had been placed on the building's foundation, and the concrete and horizontal beams above the openings had a limited weight-bearing capacity. He also urged people to stay away from the site, as the building is very dangerous and there is a possibility of further collapses. Relevant authorities intend to investigate whether construction regulations were violated and to conduct a thorough investigation in this regard.
Shahbaz Sharif, the Prime Minister of Pakistan, expressed “deep sorrow and grief” over the loss of the victims, describing the event as a painful tragedy and extending condolences to the families of the victims. Pakistan has witnessed several incidents in recent years due to weak construction standards. In June of this year, the collapse of the roof of an educational center in Lahore claimed the lives of dozens of children.
Read more: Dialogue between the Foreign Ministers of Egypt and Pakistan on Regional Developments · Taliban Foreign Minister: Issues between Afghanistan and Pakistan Can Be Resolved through Diplomacy
