At least 33 students and a teacher died when a school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, trapping children beneath debris. The incident, which occurred during classes, left 12 others injured, with some in critical condition. Rescue teams worked for over four hours to extract victims from the rubble.
The collapse involved a higher-floor roof collapsing onto lower floors, causing structural damage to three classrooms. Authorities confirmed the building was structurally weak, with the roof overloaded due to construction on a weak foundation. The school owner was arrested, and an investigation is ongoing into potential building code violations.
Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed warned the death toll could rise as rescue efforts continue. The provincial government has ordered a safety audit of all schools to prevent similar incidents. The tragedy follows previous collapses in Lahore and Islamabad, highlighting concerns over school building safety in the region.
Differences in reported death tolls and cause of collapse exist between sources. The official count from hospitals places 33 deaths, while other reports suggest lower numbers. The cause of the collapse is under investigation, with officials citing structural weaknesses and overloading as key factors.