ISLAMABAD: At least four people died and more than 40 children were injured, many critically, when the roof of a private school gave way in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar on Thursday, according to rescue officials.
The incident has reignited concerns regarding the structural safety of private educational institutions across the country. The cause of the collapse remains undetermined, and it is unclear whether the facility had undergone mandatory structural inspections.
Building failures resulting in mass casualties are a recurring issue in Pakistan, where aging infrastructure, unauthorized construction, and lax enforcement of building codes create significant hazards, especially in densely populated urban centers.
“At least four bodies and more than 40 injured children, most of them in critical condition, were transported to hospitals after the roof of a private school collapsed in the Dir Colony area of Peshawar this morning,” Bilal Faizi, a spokesperson for Rescue 1122, confirmed.
The identities and ages of the deceased have not yet been released. Authorities have not announced a cause for the collapse or disclosed details regarding an investigation.
In June, 14 children were killed when the roof of an unregistered private tuition center collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna neighborhood during classes, marking one of the deadliest recent incidents involving an educational facility in Pakistan.
The center was reportedly operating illegally within an aging residential building. Police subsequently filed charges against the owners and a contractor in connection with the deaths.
The Lahore tragedy intensified demands for stricter regulatory oversight of private educational facilities, particularly those operating in residential structures without proper safety certifications.
In July 2025, the collapse of a five-story residential building in Karachi’s Lyari district killed 27 people and injured several others, underscoring the broader dangers posed by unsafe construction practices nationwide.
