Islamabad, October 15, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
At least 31 children and two female teachers were killed, while more than 50 others were injured after the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, local media reported on Thursday, citing the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).
According to LRH, 53 children were brought to the hospital, most of them boys. Of these, 33 people died, while 17 children were discharged after observation, Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported. All the children were aged 14 years or below.
LRH spokesperson Muhammad Asim said an emergency had been declared at the hospital, with senior officials present in the trauma ward to supervise the treatment of injured people, including those in critical condition.
Speaking to reporters, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed said the school owner had been taken into custody and a case would be registered in connection with the incident, The Express Tribune reported.
Saeed said the school roof had been poorly constructed and that the building was located in narrow streets, creating difficulties for rescue operations. He added that 110 children were enrolled at the school.
Pakistan Army personnel reached the site and joined rescue and relief agencies in efforts to locate children and staff feared trapped beneath the debris.
Reports indicate that roof and building collapses remain a recurring problem in Pakistan, where weak enforcement of safety standards and the use of substandard construction materials have contributed to similar tragedies.
In August, a couple was killed and their daughters were injured after the roof of their house collapsed in Islamabad following three days of heavy rainfall, Dawn reported.
In July, at least 11 people were killed and six others injured when a three-storey building collapsed in Harbanspura town in Lahore. According to a spokesperson, three brothers lived in the building with their families, while their sister and her children were visiting for a birthday celebration shortly before the collapse. Lahore Deputy Commissioner retired Captain Muhammad Ali Ijaz ordered an investigation to determine the cause of the incident.
In June, as many as 14 children were killed after the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in the Kahna area of Lahore, Dawn reported.
The incident occurred less than two months after four children were killed and 20 people injured when the roof of a classroom at a private school collapsed in Dera Ghazi Khan city in Pakistan’s Punjab province.
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