Peshawar school roof collapse kills 21 children, one teacher
At least 17 children and a female teacher were killed after a private school roof collapsed in Peshawar's Dir Colony. More than 30 injured people were taken to hospital as rescue teams searched for survivors.
A roof collapse at a private school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony killed several children and a teacher on Thursday, October 15, as rescue teams continued efforts to recover victims and search for survivors trapped beneath the debris.
According to reports from Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), at least 17 students and one teacher had died in the incident, while more than a dozen injured people were brought to the hospital. The death toll was reported to have risen in subsequent local updates, although the latest figure could not be independently confirmed.
Rescue 1122 teams rushed to the site after receiving information about the collapse. Ambulances and disaster response vehicles were deployed, and rescuers began removing debris to reach those believed to be trapped underneath.
Rescue officials said injured students were provided with first aid before being shifted to nearby hospitals. Hospital spokesperson Muhammad Asim confirmed the fatalities, while an emergency was declared at Lady Reading Hospital to manage the incoming casualties.
The children killed in the incident were reported to be under the age of 13, highlighting the devastating impact of the collapse on young students.
As the rescue operation continued, authorities faced the task of clearing the rubble and determining whether more students or school staff remained trapped. The cause of the collapse had not been immediately established.
Concerns over school building safety
The tragedy has renewed concerns about the structural safety of educational buildings in Pakistan, where roof and building collapses have resulted in casualties in previous incidents.
In June, a roof collapse at a private educational centre in Lahore’s Kahna area killed 14 children. Other incidents involving school buildings have also raised questions about construction standards, maintenance and the enforcement of safety regulations.
A detailed investigation into the Peshawar incident will be needed to establish what caused the roof to collapse and whether any safety violations contributed to the tragedy.
Authorities had yet to confirm the cause of the collapse as rescue efforts continued on Thursday.
