34 children, one teacher killed in Pakistan school roof collapse

Babar Azam joined former Pakistan cricket star Shahid Afridi in expressing grief over the collapse of a school in Peshawar, which killed at least 30 children and a teacher. The incident occurred at the Al-Khair Education Centre in Dir Colony on Thursday, October 15. According to police and rescue officials, the roof of the multi-storey building collapsed during morning classes, killing 34 children and a female teacher, while injuring dozens more. Rescue efforts continued for several hours as workers pulled survivors from the rubble. The collapse happened at 8:48 a.m. local time, according to Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed. He described the building as structurally weak, noting that its roof had been overloaded with additional construction on a compromised foundation. The school’s owner, Mohammad Khan, was arrested, and authorities have begun an investigation into the incident. Distraught relatives accused the school of neglecting safety concerns and demanded accountability. Rescue workers spent hours searching the wreckage, using bare hands to pull children from the debris. Television footage captured the chaotic scene, showing bloodied children being carried to ambulances as anxious parents and relatives gathered nearby. According to Arif Khattak, regional director of the Rescue Department, at least 45 people sustained major and minor injuries. Most of the injured were treated and released, though three children remained in critical condition with head injuries. The incident has reignited concerns about building safety and the enforcement of construction standards in Pakistan. Former Pakistan captain Shahid Afridi expressed deep sorrow over the loss of innocent lives, offering prayers for the bereaved families. Babar Azam posted on social media, describing the situation as devastating and vowing solidarity with the people of Peshawar. Mohammad Rizwan called for improved safety measures in schools, emphasizing the need to prevent such tragedies in the future. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement expressing deep sorrow over the loss of life, extending condolences to the affected families. President Asif Ali Zardari referred to the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy, stating that the nation shared the grief of those impacted. The collapse follows previous incidents involving unsafe buildings, including a recent hospital fire in Islamabad that claimed the lives of 14 newborns. Peshawar police chief Saeed noted that the school was located in a poor district and highlighted the lack of adequate oversight for private educational institutions. Relatives of the deceased called for stricter regulations and penalties for negligence. A teacher who assisted in the rescue effort recounted pulling out six children, only to find them later confirmed dead. Authorities have initiated a safety audit of all schools in the region, aiming to ensure compliance with building codes. The incident underscores ongoing challenges related to infrastructure quality and regulatory enforcement in Pakistan. Survivors and educators described the Al-Khair Education Centre as a three-story building housing approximately 1,200 students, with 110 present in three classrooms at the time of the collapse. Most of the victims were under the age of 13, with some as young as six years old.