Pakistan school roof collapse kills 27 students, one teacher

Twenty-seven pupils and a teacher were killed on Thursday after a roof collapsed at a school in Peshawar, in northwestern Pakistan, according to an official at Lady Reading Hospital.

Asim Khan, a hospital official, confirmed the death toll to AFP and said more than 30 people were injured. Six of the injured were believed to be in critical condition.
The incident triggered an emergency rescue operation as authorities worked to locate and evacuate children trapped beneath the rubble.

Rescue Teams Search for Children Trapped Under Rubble

Bilal Ahmad Faizi, a spokesman for the Rescue 1122 emergency service in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, said the collapse crushed a classroom and trapped several children inside.

According to Faizi, one roof collapsed onto another, causing the classroom below to be crushed.

He warned that more children could still be trapped beneath the debris.

Emergency services deployed 16 ambulances, two disaster response vehicles and more than 60 personnel to the scene.

Images released by rescue teams showed workers wearing high-visibility vests removing rubble, debris and dirt while searching for survivors. AFP journalists also reported seeing dozens of people gathered at the site.

Residents Call for Investigation Into Construction Quality

The tragedy has raised concerns about building safety and construction standards.

Local resident Sher Ahmed blamed what he described as substandard construction materials for the incident and called on authorities to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

He urged officials to conduct a thorough inquiry and take strict action against anyone found responsible, stressing the need to prevent similar tragedies in the future.

The cause of the collapse had not been officially established in the reported information.

Pakistan's Leaders Express Grief Over the Tragedy

Pakistan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

In a statement, the Prime Minister prayed for the families to find the strength and patience to cope with what he described as an irreparable loss.

President Asif Ali Zardari also described the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy.

He said the entire nation shared the grief of the affected families during this difficult time.

Building Collapses Raise Safety Concerns in Pakistan

Building and roof collapses remain a recurring concern in Pakistan, where poor safety standards and substandard construction materials have been identified as contributing factors in similar incidents.

In June this year, more than a dozen children were killed when a roof collapsed at a tutoring centre in Lahore, in eastern Pakistan.

In 2025, a five-storey building collapsed in the Lyari area of Karachi, killing 27 people and injuring 10 others.

The latest school tragedy has renewed calls for stronger building safety measures, thorough inspections and accountability to help prevent further loss of life.