At least 33 killed, mostly children, as school roof collapses in Peshawar

At least 33 people were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar’s Dir Colony on Thursday with rescue operations completed and all dead and injured recovered from the rubble, officials said.

More than 200 students were trapped when the roof of an upper room collapsed onto rooms below, bringing down their structures, SSP Operations Farhan Khan told Nukta.

Khan also confirmed that police had taken the school principal into custody and initiated the process of registering a first information report (FIR) against the principal.

Peshawar Capital City Police Officer (CPO) Dr Mian Saeed said authorities would investigate suspected negligence and possible violations of building regulations following the collapse. In his initial account, he said more than 20 children and a teacher had been killed and around 47 people injured.

What caused the collapse in Dir Colony and how did rescue operations unfold?

The disaster occurred during morning classes, when more than 200 students were trapped inside the school building following the collapse. According to Khan, the roof of the top room fell onto the rooms below, triggering a structural collapse that buried students and staff under concrete slabs and masonry.

The rescue operation involved the army, police, Rescue 1122, Civil Defense, Alkhidmat and Edhi, alongside other emergency personnel. Teams used heavy machinery and specialized equipment to search the debris and recover victims.

Khan confirmed to Nukta that the operation had been completed, with all dead and injured recovered from the rubble. The death toll stood at 33.

Saeed said the facility operated from a three-story building in a densely populated neighborhood within the jurisdiction of Yaka Toot police station. The building stood along narrow streets that hampered rescue efforts.

About 110 children were attending classes in the building, with around 30 in the upper section, 40 on the floor below and 45 on the lower level, Saeed said. The figures he provided for the individual floors total 115, however, rather than 110.

The facility was run by a welfare trust called Al-Khair. Police had taken the trust’s owner into custody, while the principal and teachers were also being questioned as part of the investigation, Saeed said.

Saeed said the building appeared to have been overloaded and had a lintel made using choka blocks, raising concerns about its structural strength. Authorities were examining whether the building complied with construction standards and what had caused the collapse.

The cause of the collapse has yet to be conclusively established. The incident has raised questions about the building’s structural integrity and compliance with safety regulations.

How have provincial authorities responded to the tragedy?

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief over the loss of life, extended condolences to the bereaved families and directed health authorities to ensure that injured victims received appropriate medical care.

Governor Kundi also ordered an inquiry into the building’s structural integrity, licensing history and compliance with municipal safety regulations.

Samar Bilour, adviser on information to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Advisory Council, commended Rescue 1122 personnel for their response and said provincial administrative resources had been mobilized following the incident.

Saeed said police had coordinated with the district administration to establish whether the trust had obtained the necessary permissions and a no-objection certificate (NOC) to operate the facility. Investigators would also examine who had approved the building’s use and identify those responsible for any violations, he said.