At least 28 children, teacher killed as school roof collapses in Peshawar

At least 28 children and one female teacher were killed when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar on Thursday, while more than 30 others were injured, hospital administrators confirmed.  Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) spokesperson Muhammad Asim said that 28 bodies, including one teacher, were brought to LRH. According to Asim, an emergency was declared at LRH, with senior hospital officials present in the trauma ward to oversee the treatment of the injured, some of whom were in critical condition. Meanwhile, Naseerullah Badar Hospital confirmed one death.  "All the children were aged 13 or younger," the LRH spokesperson added. Rescue 1122 said ambulances and disaster response vehicles were dispatched to the site, where rescue teams launched operations and shifted injured children to hospital. "The rescue operation was underway to search for more people trapped under the debris, with fears that the death toll could rise," Rescue 1122 said. Following the incident, Pakistan Army personnel also reached the site and joined rescue and relief agencies in efforts to recover children and school staff feared trapped beneath the rubble and transport the injured to hospitals. CCPO speaks to media Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Dr Mian Saeed said while speaking to the media that the school owner had been taken into custody and a case would be registered over the incident. He said the school’s roofs had been poorly constructed and that the building was located in narrow streets, which had made rescue operations difficult. A total of 110 children were enrolled at the school, he added. The official said the three-storey building was located in the densely populated Dir Colony, where narrow streets were creating difficulties for rescue operations. He said the building fell within the jurisdiction of the relevant local police station and that 30 children had been present in classrooms on the upper floor when the roof collapsed. He added that the building had several deficiencies and that the roof slab had been constructed using choka- thin, flat clay tiles or custom-tapered bricks. The official warned that the building was in a dangerous condition and posed a risk of further damage. He said rescue teams were working to move people out immediately and appealed to people to cooperate with the rescue efforts. Expressing concern over the possibility of further casualties, he said the building appeared to have been overloaded and questioned how much weight the roof slab could bear. He added that the authorities would examine which building regulations had been violated and conduct a proper inquiry into the incident to determine responsibility for the negligence. Condolences pour in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of life in the roof collapse and prayed for the elevation of the ranks of those killed. In a statement, the prime minister extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for them to have patience and strength. PM Shehbaz also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, directed that they be provided with the best possible medical treatment, and ordered the authorities to expedite rescue operations. Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the children killed in the incident. “The loss of precious lives of innocent children is an extremely painful tragedy,” he said. The governor prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured children and directed the relevant authorities to provide them with the best possible medical facilities. He also sought a detailed report from the relevant authorities on the school roof collapse and directed them to determine the cause of the incident. “May Allah Almighty grant the martyred children a place in His mercy and give their bereaved families the strength to bear this loss,” Governor Kundi said. K-P Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed took notice of the incident, expressing great sorrow and directed the Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) to personally supervise rescue operations. He ordered the immediate and safe recovery of people trapped under the rubble and directed the Peshawar Chief Traffic Officer to establish a green corridor to ensure the uninterrupted movement of ambulances. The IGP stressed that traffic flow on all routes leading to hospitals must be ensured and instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations and police rescue teams to utilise all available resources at the site. He said the K-P Police stood with the affected families and prayed for the speedy and complete recovery of the injured children and teachers. Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed deep grief over the deaths, saying he was deeply shocked by the tragic news. He said he understood the profound grief of the parents who had lost their children and directed the administration to expedite rescue operations and immediately recover those trapped under the rubble. Bilawal also called for effective arrangements to ensure proper medical treatment for the injured brought to Lady Reading Hospital. This is a developing story

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