School Roof Collapse in Northwestern Pakistan Leaves at Least 29 Dead

At least 28 students and one teacher killed in incident at Al-Khair Education Center, a private school in Peshawar.

Published On 15 Oct 202615 Oct 2026

A catastrophic roof collapse at a school in northwestern Pakistan has resulted in the tragic loss of at least 28 student lives and one teacher, with over 20 others injured, according to local hospital officials.

Emergency response teams are actively searching for survivors in the aftermath of the incident, which occurred on Thursday at the Al-Khair Education Center, a private institution located in Peshawar, the capital of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province.

Mohammad Asim, a spokesperson for the local hospital, confirmed the casualties and noted that several of the injured remain in critical condition. He added that all the children affected by the tragedy were 13 years of age or younger.

Lady Reading Hospital has declared an emergency, mobilizing its medical staff to treat the wounded and provide urgent care to the victims.

Al Jazeera’s Kamal Hyder, reporting from Islamabad, highlighted that rescue operations have been significantly hampered due to the school’s location within a highly congested residential area.

Hyder explained that essential heavy machinery was unable to reach the site. Consequently, local residents and rescue workers have been forced to use basic tools, including buckets and utensils, to manually clear the debris in an effort to reach those buried beneath. He noted that the school has approximately 350 registered students.

He warned that the casualty toll is likely to rise, as dozens of wounded students have been hospitalized, with many in serious condition.

Local authorities have ordered an immediate investigation to determine the exact cause of the structural failure.

Pakistani Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar expressed deep sorrow in a post on X, stating, “Our children are our most precious asset, and every such loss is a tragedy for the entire country. My heartfelt condolences and prayers are with the bereaved families.”

He added, “The prime minister and the government have taken serious note of the situation. Ensuring the safety and protection of our children must remain paramount.”

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