Families in Peshawar are still demanding answers after the roof of a private school collapsed on Thursday, October 15, killing dozens of children in one of the deadliest building failures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in years.
What happened
The school, a three-storey building in a congested part of central Peshawar with an estimated 1,200 students from nursery to fifth grade, collapsed during school hours. AP reported that at least 28 children and a female teacher were killed and more than 50 people were injured, all the children aged 13 or younger. Later reports from ARY News put the toll at 35, including two teachers, with bodies taken to Lady Reading Hospital and Naseerullah Babar Hospital. Official tallies differed between reports.
Rescue in narrow streets
Residents were among the first to reach the site, and Rescue 1122 teams arrived within minutes. Narrow streets slowed heavy equipment. Hours later, officials said everyone trapped had been pulled out. Lady Reading Hospital declared an emergency to treat the wounded.
Arrest and investigation
Peshawar police said the building was poorly constructed and that the school owner had been arrested. The school operated under the name of an educational trust. The provincial administration has formed a committee to investigate the cause.
Official response
Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, who is running the province under governor’s rule, sought a detailed report and ordered the best possible medical care. President Asif Ali Zardari called for a comprehensive investigation and stronger safety standards for school buildings. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed officials to speed up rescue and relief.
A wider safety problem
Building collapses are common in Pakistan, where construction standards are often poorly enforced. In July, a roof collapse at a tutoring centre under construction in Lahore killed four schoolchildren. Many private schools in crowded neighbourhoods operate from converted homes or multi-storey buildings that were never designed for hundreds of pupils.
What parents can check
- Whether the school is registered with the provincial private schools regulatory authority.
- Visible cracks, water seepage or sagging in roofs and stairwells, which should be reported to the school and the district administration.
- Whether the building has more than one exit and a known evacuation plan.
Follow our Khyber Pakhtunkhwa section for updates on the inquiry.
Sources are linked throughout this article. AajMirror verifies figures against the original reports; if you spot an error, see our corrections policy.