PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD (MNN); At least 31 people, including 30 students and a female teacher, were killed when a school roof collapsed in the Afridi Abad area of Peshawar on Thursday, triggering an emergency rescue operation and calls for a comprehensive investigation into the tragedy.
According to the spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), 61 people were brought to the hospital following the incident, of whom 30 were discharged after receiving treatment.
Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmad Faizi said the roof of an upper floor collapsed onto a classroom below, causing the building’s structure to crumble and trapping children beneath the debris.
Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir later confirmed that the rescue operation had concluded after teams cleared the debris and ensured no further injured children remained at the scene. An emergency was declared at Lady Reading Hospital to facilitate the treatment of the injured.
The school was identified as Al-Khair School. Capital City Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed Ahmed said the building had a weak structure and that excessive construction on the roof had contributed to the collapse.
A parent, Samiullah, who rushed to the site after hearing about the incident, said he had rescued three young girls. He feared his son had also died because he was studying in a classroom beneath the collapsed floor, but later learned that the boy had left the classroom to drink water. Local residents also helped rescue children from the rubble.
Japan’s ambassador expresses condolences
Japan’s Ambassador to Pakistan, H.E. Mr Akamatsu Shuichi, expressed heartfelt sympathies and condolences to the families of the children and the female teacher who lost their lives in the tragic school roof collapse in Peshawar.
In a condolence message issued in Islamabad on October 15, 2026, Ambassador Akamatsu said:
“We are deeply saddened by the tragic roof-collapse at a private school in Peshawar. We extend our heartfelt condolences to the families of the children and the teacher who lost their lives and wish a swift recovery of those injured. Our thoughts are with all those affected.”
The Japanese envoy’s message expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and those affected by the tragedy, while wishing a speedy recovery to the injured.
KP governor orders investigation and safety audit
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed deep sorrow over the deaths and sought a detailed report to determine the cause of the collapse.
He directed the authorities to provide the injured children with the best possible medical facilities and ordered a structural safety audit of educational institutions throughout the province to identify potential risks and ensure immediate corrective action.
After attending the victims’ funeral prayers, Kundi said a team had been constituted to investigate the incident. He said the inquiry would examine who had issued the no-objection certificate (NOC) for the school.
The governor announced compensation of Rs1 million for each bereaved family and Rs200,000 for each injured person. He pledged a transparent investigation and action against those found responsible.
Separately, the Elementary and Secondary Education Department formed a fact-finding committee to investigate the collapse, determine its causes and recommend measures to prevent similar incidents.
The committee includes Private Schools Regulatory Authority Chairman Javid Iqbal and Education Department Deputy Secretary Muhammad Farooq, along with another member to be nominated.
KP Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed directed the Peshawar CCPO to oversee the rescue operation. Traffic police were also instructed to establish a green corridor to ensure the uninterrupted movement of ambulances.
PM Shehbaz takes serious notice
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif took serious notice of the incident and sought a comprehensive report, according to the Prime Minister’s Office.
The prime minister spoke to Governor Kundi, expressed condolences to the bereaved families and directed the authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured and assistance to affected families.
The governor informed him that the school owner had been arrested and an investigation had been launched. Shehbaz directed that all aspects of the incident be examined and those responsible be dealt with in accordance with the law.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar said the loss of children’s lives was a tragedy for the entire country and stressed that their safety must remain a top priority.
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed profound grief and called for a thorough investigation, emphasising the need to ensure that educational institutions comply with building safety standards.
PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari and MNA Aseefa Bhutto-Zardari expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for accountability and improved safety arrangements at schools.
UNICEF and HRCP demand accountability
UNICEF expressed deep sadness over the tragedy and offered condolences to the bereaved families. Its representative in Pakistan, Pernille Ironside, said the organisation was ready to support the government by providing psychosocial assistance to affected children, families and communities.
UNICEF called for urgent action to ensure that all public and private schools meet building safety standards and undergo regular inspections, stressing that no child should face life-threatening risks while attending school.
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) described the incident as a preventable failure rather than a mere accident, citing reports that the building’s weak structure had been burdened by excessive construction.
The commission demanded an independent, time-bound inquiry, public disclosure of its findings, accountability for the school owner and relevant regulators, compensation for affected families, and mandatory structural audits of educational institutions.
Repeated incidents raise safety concerns
The tragedy has renewed concerns about building safety in Pakistan, where roof and structural collapses have repeatedly claimed lives.
Recent incidents include the deaths of 14 children in a private tuition centre collapse in Lahore’s Kahna area in June, the collapse of a school wall near Umerkot in July that killed three girls, and other roof collapses involving schools and residential buildings.
The Peshawar incident has intensified calls for strict enforcement of construction regulations, regular safety inspections and accountability for those who allow unsafe buildings to remain operational.
