Fourteen children and a 30-year-old female teacher were killed when the roof of a private tutoring center collapsed in Lahore, Pakistan, on Tuesday, according to rescue officials. Authorities have launched an investigation into the incident, which occurred at an unregistered facility operating within a residential building.
Punjab’s emergency service confirmed that rescue teams recovered victims aged between five and 16 years, with the majority under nine. Witnesses reported that workers were repairing roof tiles at the time of the collapse, which occurred in a densely populated area.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari stated that preliminary findings indicated the structure lacked proper safety measures and was in a state of disrepair. She emphasized that legal action would be taken if negligence or legal violations were confirmed.
Emergency responders, including civilians and rescue personnel, worked to clear debris from the partially collapsed building. Relatives of the victims described the unsafe conditions, with one uncle noting the roof’s poor structural integrity during repairs.
Two individuals have been detained as part of the ongoing investigation, with police gathering evidence at the scene. Lahore’s Commissioner Marryam Khan pledged a transparent inquiry to identify those responsible, while Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed national grief and ordered full medical support for the injured.
The tragedy underscores recurring safety concerns in Pakistan, where building collapses due to substandard construction and oversight are frequent. In July of the previous year, a five-story structure in Karachi’s Lyari district collapsed, killing 27 and injuring 10.
