Peshawar: At least 28 people, more than 20 students and a female teacher, were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar on Thursday, October 15, according to officials at Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).
The incident occurred at Al Khair School in the Afridi Abad locality while children were in class.
LRH spokesperson Muhammad Asim confirmed that more than 20 students, including 18 boys and two girls aged between seven and 12, died. A female teacher was also among those killed. Rescue officials are still identifying the deceased.
He said 21 people were injured, including five in critical condition, and that an emergency was declared at the hospital to provide treatment for those affected.
Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir confirmed that the school's roof collapsed while students were in their classrooms, leaving several trapped under the debris.
Rescue 1122 teams, police, and local residents participated in the emergency response, removing debris and transporting injured students and teachers to hospital.
Rescue officials initially reported more than 10 injured children, while subsequent hospital updates confirmed a rising number of fatalities as rescue operations continued.
President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed their condolences over the incident and extended them to the affected families. He directed the relevant authorities to ensure that injured students and teachers received all available medical assistance.
Federal minister Ishaq Dar condemned the incident on X, calling the children "our most precious asset", and asked authorities to take all necessary action to "ensure the best possible medical care for the injured and strengthen safety standards in our schools."
Governor Faisal Kundi also condemned the incident and ordered a "province wide structural safety audit of all educational institutions to identify potential risks and ensure that immediate corrective measures are taken wherever necessary."
The incident renewed concerns about the structural safety of school buildings in Pakistan, where several roof and wall collapses caused casualties in recent months.
In June, a roof collapse at a tuition centre in Lahore's Kahna area killed 14 children. Other incidents involving educational buildings were also reported across Punjab and Sindh.
Authorities continued rescue and medical assistance as the situation developed.
