A private school roof in northwestern Pakistan just became a crime scene. On Thursday morning in Peshawar’s Dir Colony, the roof at Al-Khair Education Centre gave way — and at least 34 children and a teacher never made it out.
Hospital and police tallies reported by AP, BBC, and local outlets put most of the dead under age 13. Lady Reading Hospital took in dozens of injured. Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir said everyone trapped under the debris had been pulled out by the end of the rescue.
City police chief Mian Saeed called it “gross negligence” and warned the building remains extremely dangerous, with risk of further collapse. Preliminary findings: a structurally weak, poorly built three-storey school squeezed into a narrow, congested lane. The owner — running the place as an education trust — was arrested. Substandard materials are under investigation.
Rescue crews got the call around 08:48 local time. Residents rushed in with shovels. Upper-floor classrooms came down onto rooms below. Provincial education officials ordered a Private Schools Regulatory Authority report by Friday. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ordered relief sped up and accountability pursued.
Kids showed up for class. A roof failed. That is not an act of God — that is someone who should have been inspected before the rubble.
Sources: AP — Peshawar school roof collapse · BBC — Pakistan school roof collapse live · The Hindu — 34 children, teacher killed
Featured image: AI-generated editorial illustration by Bugle Blast.
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