Pakistan School Roof Collapse Kills 35 in Peshawar
At least 35 people, including 34 children and a teacher, were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, on Thursday, October 15, 2026. More than 50 others were injured, some critically, as rescue teams searched through the debris of the Al-Khair school in the city’s Dir Colony neighbourhood.
Peshawar School Roof Collapse Kills 34 Children
The collapse occurred during morning classes while young students were inside their classrooms. Most of the victims were aged between six and 14.
Emergency workers and local residents rushed to rescue children trapped beneath the rubble. Nearly 100 rescuers participated in the operation, and authorities later confirmed that everyone trapped had been recovered.
Several injured children were transported to Lady Reading Hospital, where emergency arrangements were made to accommodate casualties.
School Owner Arrested as Police Investigate Collapse
Peshawar police arrested the school’s owner as investigators examined possible construction negligence and structural defects.
Police chief Mian Saeed said the building had a weak structure and that additional construction work on its roof may have contributed to the collapse.
Emergency officials also identified heavy rainfall as a possible contributing factor. However, investigators have yet to establish the definitive cause.
Pakistan Orders Investigation Into School Safety
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and President Asif Ali Zardari expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for a thorough investigation.
Authorities established an inquiry to examine construction standards, building safety and potential regulatory failures.
The tragedy has renewed concerns about inadequate structural inspections and poorly enforced construction regulations at educational institutions across Pakistan.
UNICEF urged authorities to ensure that both public and private schools comply with building safety requirements and undergo regular inspections.
