In brief
The morning of Thursday, the upper‑floor roof of Al‑Khair school in Dir Colony tumbled, crushing three classrooms and killing 34 people. Rescue workers faced narrow streets and heavy rubble, while police and the provincial governor are investigating building-code violations. The owner has been arrested and a safety audit of all schools in the province has been ordered, following earlier tragedies that raised concerns about oversight.
At least 34 people, including 33 pupils and a teacher, have died after the roof of a private school in Peshawar collapsed on Thursday morning.
Emergency services arrived at Al-Khair school in Dir Colony at 08:48 local time. According to hospital officials, the roof of an upper-floor classroom fell, sending debris through the lower floors and trapping dozens of students.
Rescue workers described a chaotic scene: the street is too narrow for large vehicles, and the rubble is heavy and difficult to remove. A local teacher and other residents helped pull out more than 20 children, many of whom were already dead when first found.
Police chief Mian Saeed called the collapse a case of "gross negligence" and said the building was built on a temporary basis with sub-standard roof slabs. He confirmed that three floors were brought down and that the owner has been arrested.
The governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, has ordered a safety audit of all schools in the province to identify potential risks. He said there can be no compromise on child safety.
The incident follows earlier tragedies in the country — a private tuition centre near Lahore fell in January, killing fourteen children, and a hospital neonatal unit in Islamabad burned in August, killing fourteen newborns.
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