A school roof collapse in Peshawar killed 34 children and a teacher, injured more than 50 people and prompted a criminal investigation and province-wide school safety inspections.
The roof gave way on Thursday, October 15, at Al-Khair Education Centre in Dir Colony while classes were under way; most of the dead and injured children were between six and 12 years old. Rescuers and residents worked to pull trapped pupils from the rubble, and authorities later said the rescue operation was complete. Police described the building as structurally weak, while the school’s owner reportedly blamed recent rain; investigators have not publicly settled the cause.
A police case names the school’s owners, shareholders and construction contractor, and alleges substandard building materials and earlier complaints about the building’s condition. Those claims have not been established as fact. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa officials ordered inspections of educational buildings across the province, while families of those killed called for a thorough investigation and accountability.
The provincial governor also announced compensation for bereaved families and injured people.