35 Killed as Roof of Three-Storey Private School Collapses in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: At least 35 people, including 34 children and a female teacher, were killed when the roof of a three-storey private school collapsed in Peshawar’s Dir Colony, according to rescue officials.

Rescue authorities said several children were injured and trapped beneath the rubble following the collapse. The deceased children were reportedly between seven and 13 years of age.

The administration of Lady Reading Hospital said 33 bodies had been brought to the facility, while two bodies were shifted to Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital. Rescue teams also transported numerous injured children to hospitals for medical treatment.

Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar Mian Saeed said more than 40 people had been injured in the incident. He confirmed that the owner of the private school had been arrested.

School owner and principal arrested

Police said the school’s principal had also been taken into custody. An investigation is under way to determine when the institution was established, while authorities are preparing to register a formal case.

The district administration confirmed that the school building had three storeys and announced the formation of an inquiry committee to determine the cause of the roof collapse.

Rescue officials said the operation to remove the rubble was under way and that all people trapped beneath the debris had been recovered.

School building reportedly lacked technical inspection

According to official sources, the school building had not undergone a technical inspection before the incident. The institution was registered with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Private Schools Regulatory Authority (PSRA) in March 2026, despite concerns about the building’s deteriorated condition.

PSRA Managing Director Javed Iqbal said the authority did not have a dedicated team to conduct technical inspections of school buildings. He explained that the school had been registered after meeting classroom and other administrative requirements.

Iqbal added that the authority could impose fines on schools operating from dilapidated buildings but did not have the power to shut them down.

Governor expresses grief, seeks report

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and sought a report from the relevant authorities. He also directed officials to ensure the provision of the best possible medical facilities to injured children.

Funeral prayers for the children who lost their lives in the Dir Colony school tragedy were subsequently offered. Governor Faisal Karim Kundi, Adviser to the Chief Minister on Education Amir Abdullah and hundreds of people attended the funeral prayers.

Inspection of private school buildings ordered across KP

Following the incident, the provincial authorities decided to inspect private school buildings across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

The inspections will cover the structural condition of buildings, including roofs, walls and foundations, as well as safety arrangements.

District-level inquiry committees have been established, comprising district monitoring officers and representatives of the Education Department and the Communication and Works Department.

The committees have been directed to submit reports on the condition of school buildings and their safety measures within three days.

The authorities will identify unsafe buildings and recommend necessary repairs and precautionary measures. The Education Department has also been instructed to develop a mechanism for addressing structural and safety deficiencies in school buildings without delay.

‘Children’s blood will not go in vain,’ says Samar Haroon Bilour

Samar Haroon Bilour, an adviser to the Governor’s Advisory Council on Information, told Geo News that the tragedy highlighted a lack of accountability within the system.

Expressing grief over the deaths, she said the families of the deceased and injured children would be provided with a relief package.

She vowed that those found responsible for negligence would face action, saying the children’s deaths would not be allowed to go in vain.