Peshawar School Roof Collapse Kills at Least 29, Including 28 Children
At least 29 people, including 28 students and a female teacher, were killed after the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, on October 15, 2026. The tragedy occurred during morning classes at the Al-Khair School in the city’s Afridi Abad locality, leaving several families devastated.
According to hospital officials, the children who died were between seven and 16 years old. The incident also left several others injured, with early reports indicating that some victims required urgent medical treatment. The death toll and injury figures varied as authorities updated information throughout the day.
The collapse occurred when the roof of an upper floor gave way, bringing down parts of the structure onto classrooms below. Students were inside the building when the incident happened, trapping children beneath concrete and other debris.
Emergency responders, police personnel and local residents rushed to the scene to assist in rescue operations. The narrow streets surrounding the school made it difficult to bring heavy rescue equipment close to the building, forcing rescuers and residents to work through the rubble to reach those trapped inside.
The Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar declared an emergency to treat the injured. Medical teams worked to provide immediate care, while parents and relatives gathered near the school and hospitals to find information about their children.
Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed Ahmed said the building had a weak structure and that excessive construction on the roof may have contributed to the collapse. Authorities subsequently detained the school’s owner as part of the investigation into the disaster.
The incident has renewed concerns about the structural safety of educational institutions in Pakistan, particularly privately operated schools housed in buildings that may not meet adequate construction and safety standards. Questions have also emerged about building inspections, compliance with regulations and the responsibility of school operators to ensure the safety of students.
Pakistan has experienced several deadly building and roof collapses in recent months, including incidents involving schools and tuition centres. These tragedies have prompted calls for stronger enforcement of construction regulations and more frequent safety inspections of buildings used by children.
Following the Peshawar disaster, officials called for a thorough investigation into the cause of the collapse and measures to prevent similar incidents. Authorities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa also emphasised the need to review the safety of educational buildings across the province.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths and extended condolences to the bereaved families. President Asif Ali Zardari and other senior officials also conveyed their condolences and called for appropriate assistance for the affected families and injured students.
The collapse has left the local community mourning the loss of young lives and intensified demands for accountability. For the families affected, the immediate priority remains medical care for survivors, support for those who have lost loved ones and clear answers about how a school building could collapse while children were attending classes.
