PESHAWAR (Kashmir English): At least 35 children have died and dozens injured after the roof of a private school collapsed in Dir Colony, Peshawar, according to hospital and rescue officials.
The deaths of 35 children and a female teacher in the collapse of a private school roof in Peshawar have sparked renewed questions about the safety of educational infrastructure and governance in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, where PTI has governed for much of the past 13 years.
LRH spokesperson Muhammad Asim confirmed that 17 children, all aged 13 or younger, and one female teacher were brought to the hospital dead. At least 40 injured children were receiving treatment in the emergency ward, with some reportedly in critical condition.
The hospital administration declared an emergency, while Rescue 1122 teams launched an operation to clear the debris and search for anyone who might remain trapped beneath the rubble.
School Owner Linked to PTI
The school, located on College Road in the Dir Colony area of Peshawar, is owned by Muhammad Khan, who has been s a longstanding affiliate of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI). Claims have also emerged that the premises were used to host a local PTI meeting in preparation for a long march.
According to the details, the premises operated as a private school during the day and a madrassa in the evening, serving families from lower- and lower-middle-income backgrounds.
The tragedy has intensified scrutiny of school building safety, infrastructure maintenance and regulatory oversight in the province.
It has also raised questions about whether successive provincial administrations did enough to ensure that educational institutions met safety standards and that potentially dangerous structures were identified in time.
PTI’s extended period in power in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has placed its governance record under renewed public scrutiny. However, determining whether negligence contributed to this particular collapse will require an investigation into the building’s structural condition, ownership, inspection history and compliance with applicable safety regulations.
Samar Haroon Bilour expressed grief over the loss of lives
Meanwhile, Advisor on Information Samar Haroon Bilour expressed grief over the loss of lives and offered condolences to the affected families. She directed rescue teams to accelerate relief efforts and instructed hospital authorities to provide the best possible treatment to the injured.
As rescue operations continue, the immediate priority remains the recovery of any trapped individuals and the treatment of survivors. The incident also underscores the need for a transparent investigation to establish the cause of the collapse and determine whether any officials or responsible parties failed to fulfil their duties.
PM AJK Expresses Grief
Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Iftikhar Gilani has expressed deep grief and sorrow over the tragic collapse of a private school’s roof in Peshawar, which claimed the lives of 17 children and a female teacher.
In his statement, the AJK prime minister said he was deeply saddened by the sudden and tragic deaths of the innocent children and the teacher.
“I fully share the grief of the bereaved families in this hour of sorrow,” Gilani said, expressing solidarity with those affected by the tragedy.
He prayed that Allah Almighty grant the bereaved families the strength and patience to endure the devastating loss.
