On 15 October, the roof collapsed at the Al-Khair private school in Peshawar during morning lessons. According to the latest available reports, at least 29 people were killed — 28 pupils and a teacher; the authorities have launched an investigation, and the school’s owner has been detained.
Briefly about the main points
- At least 28 pupils and a teacher were killed in the collapse.
- The emergency services were called at 08:48 local time.
- The operation to clear the rubble lasted around four to five hours.
- The cause of the collapse is still being investigated; the police have put forward a preliminary theory.
The rescue operation lasted several hours
The collapse occurred in the morning whilst lessons were taking place in the building. According to the emergency services, the call came in at 08:48 local time, and the rescue operation lasted approximately four to five hours.
A rescue official reported that the ceiling of the top floor had collapsed onto the classrooms below, causing two storeys of the building to collapse. Early reports indicated that most of the pupils who died were under the age of 13.
The number of injured cited in reports varied depending on when the information was updated and the source of the data; therefore, the final number of casualties has not yet been disclosed.
The police are inspecting the condition of the structure
Chief of Police, Peshawar Mian Saeed Ahmed had previously stated that the building was structurally unsound and that the roof may have been overloaded due to construction work. This is the police’s preliminary assessment, whilst the official technical cause of the collapse is yet to be determined by the investigation.
The police have reported that the owner of the educational establishment has been detained. The mere fact of his detention does not establish his guilt; investigators will be looking into the circumstances of the tragedy and whether safety requirements were adhered to.
Relatives of the victims claimed that the school’s management had allegedly ignored warnings about the condition of the building. At the time of publication, there is no independent confirmation that such warnings existed.
The authorities have expressed their condolences to the families
Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif He expressed his condolences to the families of the deceased and instructed that medical assistance be provided to the injured, his office said.
Throughout the day, figures on the number of fatalities and injuries were updated. According to the latest available reports, at least 29 deaths have been confirmed, but the full extent of the tragedy and the cause of the collapse are still being established.
