Roof Collapse at Pakistan School Kills at Least 29

Following a roof collapse at a school in Peshawar, Pakistan, at least 29 people were killed, prompting an investigation and the arrest of the owner. Read the full article at RT.com.

At least 28 children and a teacher were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed during classes in the city of Peshawar in northwestern Pakistan. More than 50 other people were injured, some of them are in serious condition.

The ceiling of the upper floor in the three-story al-Khair school was replaced and the ceiling of the lower classrooms was lowered. Students were attending class when the structure collapsed and children and teachers were trapped under the debris.

Rescuers, with the help of police and local residents, pulled the children out of the rubble and rushed the injured to Lady Reading Hospital, where an emergency was declared. The rescue operation ended a few hours later and officials confirmed that all the trapped people had been found.

Samiullah Khan, a local resident, helped rescue three young girls from the plane wreckage. Her son, who was studying at the school, survived shortly before the collapse after leaving his classroom for a drink of water, she told the Dawn newspaper.

Look at the site of the collapsed school building in Peshawar, where all three floors have been reduced to rubble. Officials say that poor quality construction materials were the main cause of its collapse. #Peshawar tragedy #School tragedy #Pakistan

— Sajjad Tarakzai (@SajjadTarakzai) October 15, 2026

Police have arrested the owner of the school while authorities are investigating the cause of the collapse. Peshawar Police Chief Mian Saeed Ahmed said the building was structurally weak and the additional construction had put too much weight on the roof. The provincial government has formed an investigation committee.

Expressing his condolences to the families, Pakistani Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered the authorities to provide medical aid to the injured. President Asif Ali Zardari called for a comprehensive investigation. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kandi also ordered structural safety audits of educational institutions.

In June, 14 children were killed when the roof of a private educational center collapsed in Lahore, Punjab province. Four children also died due to the collapse of the classroom roof in Ghazi Khan Valley in May.