At least 19 people, including 18 pupils and a teacher, have been killed after a school roof collapsed in Peshawar, northwestern Pakistan, during lessons on Thursday morning.
Forty other people were injured in the incident, which occurred in the Dir Colony area of Peshawar, according to local media reports.
Rescue workers rushed to the scene and began searching through the rubble for survivors, with several children feared trapped beneath the debris.
Mohammad Asim, spokesperson for Peshawar’s Lady Reading Hospital, said all the pupils who died in the collapse were under the age of 13.
The incident has sparked grief across Pakistan, with the country’s leadership expressing condolences to the families of those killed and calling for urgent assistance for the injured.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy, particularly the loss of young children and their teacher.
Sharif offered prayers for the deceased and extended his sympathies to the bereaved families, wishing them strength as they cope with the loss.
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and directed the relevant authorities to ensure they receive all necessary medical assistance.
Meanwhile, Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has requested a detailed report from the relevant authorities on the incident.
President Asif Ali Zardari also expressed shock and grief over the deaths and injuries, describing the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy that had plunged the nation into mourning.
In a statement shared on X by his office, Zardari extended condolences to the families of the victims and prayed for the swift and complete recovery of those injured.
The president directed authorities to provide the injured with the best possible medical care and called for a comprehensive investigation to establish the circumstances that led to the collapse.
He also stressed the need to review and enforce safety standards for educational institution buildings to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
The search and rescue operation was continuing as authorities worked to determine the cause of the collapse and establish whether more victims remained trapped beneath the rubble.
The incident has renewed concerns about the structural safety of school buildings and the need for effective inspections to protect pupils and teachers in educational institutions.
