【Epoch Times October 15, 2026】A private school in the northwestern Pakistani city of Peshawar witnessed a tragic incident on Thursday morning, where the roof suddenly collapsed during school hours, resulting in the death of at least 32 children and a female teacher, with dozens more injured. Police and hospital officials have stated that the death toll may rise further, as rescue teams continue to search through the rubble, while anxious parents and relatives gather outside the school awaiting news of their loved ones.
The incident occurred at 8:48 a.m. local time at the Al-Khair Education Center, a private school in Peshawar. According to reports from Reuters, the rescue operation headed by regional supervisor Arif Khattak lasted for approximately 4 to 5 hours.
Mohammad Asim, the spokesperson for Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, revealed that most of the deceased students were under the age of 13, including a female teacher, with some of the injured in critical condition. The hospital mentioned that some of the treated injured individuals have already been discharged.
Rescue officials explained that the collapse of the roof on the upper floors resulted in the crushing of the lower levels and classrooms, causing a structural damage to the two-story building.
Television footage depicted rescuers clearing debris by hand and carrying bloodied children onto ambulances. The narrow alley where the school is located was crowded with relatives of students, school staff, and residents from nearby areas, creating a tense atmosphere at the scene.
Mian Saeed, the Police Chief of Peshawar, stated that the school building had a fragile structure and the roof might have collapsed due to excessive load during construction. Initial investigations suggest that this could be the cause of the roof collapse, while rescue workers also indicated that overnight rain might have contributed to the instability of the roof.
Authorities have arrested the school principal and initiated an investigation, which is still ongoing.
Some of the bereaved family members of the victims are demanding accountability from the authorities.
Mohammad Zaman, who lost two nephews in the tragedy, emphasized, “The authorities should punish those responsible severely to serve as a deterrent. Running schools solely for profit without providing necessary facilities should not be tolerated.”
Earlier, Saeed mentioned that at the time of the incident, there were approximately 110 students in three classrooms, with around 47 individuals already rescued, expressing concerns that the death toll could potentially rise further.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif of Pakistan, through his office, issued a statement expressing grief over the incident and offering condolences to the families of the victims. He instructed relevant departments to expedite rescue and relief efforts and provide necessary medical assistance to the injured.