Peshawar (The COW News Digital) At least 35 people, including 34 children and a female teacher, have died after the roof of a three-storey private school collapsed in Peshawar’s Dir Colony, according to details provided by rescue and hospital authorities.
The tragic incident left more than 40 people injured, including several schoolchildren who were trapped beneath the debris. Rescue teams rushed to the site and transported the injured to nearby hospitals for emergency treatment.
According to hospital officials, 33 bodies were brought to Lady Reading Hospital, while two were taken to Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital. Rescue officials said the children who died in the incident were between seven and 13 years old.
Peshawar Capital City Police Officer Mian Saeed confirmed that the number of injured people had exceeded 40. He also said the owner of the private school had been arrested in connection with the incident.
Police subsequently confirmed that the school principal had also been taken into custody. Authorities said an investigation was underway to establish when the institution was established and determine the circumstances that led to the collapse. A first information report (FIR) was also being registered.
The district administration confirmed that the school building had three storeys and announced the formation of an inquiry committee to investigate the cause of the collapse. Officials said the committee would examine the circumstances surrounding the incident and identify the factors responsible.
Rescue authorities reported that teams were removing debris from the site and had retrieved all the people trapped beneath the collapsed structure.
Questions Raised Over Building Safety
The incident has raised serious questions about the safety standards applied to private educational institutions and the procedures followed before schools are registered and allowed to operate.
According to government sources, the school building had not undergone a technical inspection. The institution was reportedly registered with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority in March 2026, despite concerns about the building’s deteriorated condition.
Javed Iqbal, managing director of the provincial Private Schools Regulatory Authority, said the authority did not have a dedicated team to conduct technical inspections of school buildings.
He explained that schools were registered after meeting requirements related to classrooms and other administrative standards. He also stated that the authority could impose fines over deteriorated buildings but did not have the power to shut schools down.
These disclosures have brought the school registration and building safety oversight system under scrutiny. The inquiry committee is expected to investigate the structural condition of the building and determine whether any regulatory shortcomings contributed to the tragedy.
Governor Seeks Report
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief over the loss of lives and conveyed his condolences to the affected families.
The governor sought a report from the relevant authorities and directed officials to ensure the provision of the best possible medical treatment to children injured in the incident.
As investigations continue, authorities face the task of establishing the precise cause of the collapse and determining responsibility, while injured students receive treatment and bereaved families await answers.
The incident has renewed concerns over the safety of school buildings and the need for effective inspection and enforcement mechanisms to protect students and teachers
