Web Desk: At least 35 people, including 34 children and a female teacher, were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar on Wednesday, authorities said, prompting questions about the building’s safety and the institution’s management.
More than 40 people were injured in the collapse at the school in Dir Colony along College Road, Capital City Police Officer Mian Saeed told reporters. Rescue teams continued clearing the rubble with heavy machinery as they searched for possible survivors.
The tragedy has also drawn attention to the school’s owner, Muhammad Khan, who, according to the information provided, has longstanding links to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party. The premises were reportedly used for school activities in the morning and madrassa classes in the evening.
Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) officials said 22 bodies had been brought to the facility. Hospital spokesman Muhammad Asim said all the children who died were 13 or younger.
At least 25 seriously injured children were taken to LRH, where medical staff activated emergency arrangements to treat the victims. Several injured people remained in critical condition, hospital officials said.
Meanwhile, Rescue 1122 teams worked at the scene to remove debris and reach anyone who might still be trapped beneath the collapsed structure. Authorities continued the operation amid concerns that additional students or staff members could remain under the rubble.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Information Adviser Samar Haroon Bilour expressed condolences to the victims’ families and instructed the relevant authorities and rescue personnel to deploy all available resources to accelerate the operation. She also called for the injured to receive the best possible medical care.
The school’s reported dual use for educational activities has raised questions about how its premises were managed and whether the building met the required safety standards.
According to the information provided, owner Muhammad Khan operated a private school during the day and a madrassa in the evening. The account describes the institution as a low-cost operation catering to families from lower- and lower-middle-income backgrounds.
However, the school’s fee structure, enrolment figures, regulatory status and compliance with building-safety requirements have not been independently established. Authorities would need to examine these details before drawing conclusions about the institution’s management or any potential role in the collapse.
The information provided also describes Khan as a longtime PTI affiliate and says the school premises were recently used for a local party meeting ahead of a planned long march.
The reported political association and use of the premises do not, by themselves, establish any connection between PTI and the structural failure. Any such claims would require independent verification.
The immediate priority remains the rescue operation and treatment of the injured. At the same time, the incident has renewed concerns about the safety of buildings used by private educational institutions, particularly those attended by children.
Authorities are expected to examine the building’s structural condition, construction quality, maintenance history and compliance with applicable safety regulations to determine what caused the roof to collapse.
The inquiry should also establish whether the school had the necessary approvals and whether any inspections identified structural risks before the incident.
A fact-based investigation will be essential to determine whether negligence or regulatory failures contributed to the deaths and injuries. Any responsibility should be established through evidence and due process.
Read more: PTI’s 13-year neglect causes Peshawar school collapse leaving 21 children dead
