Pakistan school roof collapse: Death toll in Peshawar rises to 33, including 31 children

People gather around debris and rubble lying in the courtyard of a school following a roof collapse, in Peshawar on Thursday. PIC/AFP

At least 33 people, including 31 children and two teachers, have died after a school roof collapsed in Peshawar, Pakistan, while more than 50 others were injured, according to local media reports citing the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH).

As per LRH, 53 children were admitted to the hospital following the incident. Most of them were boys aged 14 or younger. Of those admitted, 33 succumbed to their injuries, while 17 were discharged after medical observation, Pakistani daily The Express Tribune reported.

LRH Spokesperson Muhammad Asim said an emergency was declared at the hospital, with senior officials stationed in the trauma ward to oversee the treatment of survivors. Several injured people remain in critical condition, reported news agency ANI.

Addressing the media, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Mian Saeed said the school owner had been taken into custody and legal proceedings would be initiated, The Express Tribune reported.

Saeed said the building was poorly constructed and located in congested, narrow lanes, making it difficult for emergency teams to reach the site. Official records show that 110 children were enrolled at the institution.

Pakistan Army personnel were also deployed to assist rescue and relief teams in searching for students or staff members who may still be trapped beneath the rubble.

Building collapses raise safety concerns in Pakistan

Incidents involving structural failures and roof collapses have repeatedly claimed lives across Pakistan, raising concerns over building regulations, safety enforcement and the use of substandard construction materials.

In August, a couple died and their daughters were injured after a roof collapsed in Islamabad following three days of heavy rainfall, Dawn reported.

In July, 11 people were killed when a three-storey building collapsed in Lahore's Harbanspura area, where families had gathered for a celebration. Lahore Deputy Commissioner, retired Captain Muhammad Ali Ijaz, subsequently ordered an inquiry into the incident.

In June, 14 children died after the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in Lahore's Kahna area, Dawn reported. The incident occurred less than two months after four children were killed and 20 others injured when a classroom roof collapsed at a private school in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab.

(With ANI inputs)