33 Children and Teacher Killed in Pakistan School Collapse
A school collapse in Pakistan killed at least 33 children and a teacher, sparking calls for safety reforms.
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At least 33 children and their female teacher were killed when the roof of a school collapsed during morning classes in Peshawar, Pakistan, on Thursday. Rescue workers spent four hours recovering the bodies from the debris, according to local reports.
Building Collapse and Injuries
The roof from a higher floor collapsed, bringing two stories of the school building down and crushing students and the teacher beneath. Local hospitals reported treating about 50 injured, including three children in critical condition.
Peshawar police chief Saeed Ahmed stated that the roof was overloaded with construction on a weak structure, which caused the collapse. A teacher from another school who rushed to the scene told the BBC he personally pulled out six children, though they later succumbed to their injuries.
Investigation and Accusations
Police arrested the school owner, Mohammad Khan, who denied negligence, blaming heavy rains for weakening the roof. Relatives of the victims accused school officials of ignoring maintenance and construction concerns, highlighting the poor state of many low-cost private schools in Pakistan.
The Al Khair Education Center, located in a poor district of Peshawar, serves hundreds of students. Surviving teachers described the building as a three-story structure with around 1,200 students. Ahmed noted that 110 students were in three classrooms when the disaster struck.
Broader Context and Calls for Reform
The incident has sparked calls for stricter safety regulations and oversight of private schools, which often lack proper infrastructure. A similar roof collapse in Lahore in June killed 14 children, underscoring a recurring issue in the region.
Peshawar resident expressed anger over the tragedy, saying, “Make an example of them, a lesson for all, so that no one dares open a school just to make money without providing facilities.”
Authorities have pledged a thorough investigation into possible violations of building codes and ordered a safety audit of all schools to identify potential risks and ensure immediate corrective measures.
Source: Breitbart
