At least 28 children and one or two teachers were killed on Thursday, October 15, 2026, when the roof of a private school collapsed in Peshawar. The Peshawar school roof collapse happened at the Al-Khair Education Center in the Dir Colony area of the city, while classes were going on. This is a developing story. Reports give slightly different death tolls, and the numbers below come from officials and news agencies on Thursday.
What Happened
The roof of the small private school gave way during lessons. Residents were among the first to reach the site, and parents rushed to the school and to the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) looking for their children. Rescue 1122 ambulances and disaster response teams arrived and began pulling children from the rubble.
A rescue official said the roof of an upper floor fell onto the first-floor roof, which then gave way onto students sitting below. Authorities said all the children who were killed or hurt were aged 13 or younger.
Death Toll and Injured
The toll changed through the day, and reports differ on the number of teachers. Here is what major sources reported on Thursday:
| Source | Reported Toll |
|---|---|
| AP and PTI (citing a hospital spokesman and police) | 28 children and a female teacher; more than 40 to 50 injured |
| Aaj News and Minute Mirror | 28 children and two female teachers, 30 in total |
| CBS News | Almost 30 students and a teacher |
The Lady Reading Hospital declared an emergency, and more than 25 injured children were taken to its emergency ward. Some were reported to be in critical condition. A hospital spokesperson said 28 students, including six girls, and a teacher were among the dead, in the figures given to PTI. The numbers may change as officials confirm names and injuries, so check the latest news before you quote them.
Rescue Work
Rescue teams used heavy machinery along with the help of residents. Earlier reports said a number of children were feared trapped. Later in the day, Peshawar’s Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir said rescue teams had cleared the debris and no more injured children remained at the scene, according to Geo News as quoted by ANI.
What Officials Say About the Cause
The exact cause has not been officially confirmed. Peshawar’s Capital City Police Officer, Mian Saeed, said the building appeared to be weak, and that its roof was too heavy for the structure underneath. He said the roof slab seemed to be built with thin, flat clay tiles or specially shaped bricks. He also raised the question of whether the building was overloaded.
Officials said the school was in a relatively small two-storey residential building on a narrow street, and that it mostly taught children from low-income families. A witness told CBS News the building looked unsuitable for a school.
Investigation and Arrest
- Police said the school’s owner has been arrested, and legal proceedings are expected.
- Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir ordered an inquiry into the collapse.
- Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed grief and sent condolences to the families.
- Officials were directed to make sure the injured received the best possible treatment.
Other School Building Accidents This Year
This is not the first school building accident in Pakistan this year. In July, three girls, aged 3 to 13, were killed when part of an outer wall of a government primary school near Umerkot fell. In the same month, a child died and at least five others were hurt when the roof of an under-construction private school collapsed in Lahore’s Baghbanpura area.
What Parents and Schools Can Do
- Parents can ask a school about its registration and building safety checks.
- Schools should have their buildings inspected by qualified engineers, especially older or converted residential buildings.
- Roofs and upper floors should not be loaded with extra construction or stored material.
- Concerns can be reported to the district education office or through government complaint portals such as the Pakistan Citizen’s Portal.
Frequently Asked Questions
When and where did the school roof collapse happen?
On Thursday, October 15, 2026, at the private Al-Khair Education Center in Dir Colony, Peshawar.
How many people were killed?
At least 28 children and one or two teachers, according to different reports. The toll may change.
What caused the collapse?
The cause is not officially confirmed. Police pointed to a weak building and an overloaded roof, and an inquiry has been ordered.
Has anyone been arrested?
Police said the school’s owner has been arrested.
Where were the injured taken?
Mostly to the Lady Reading Hospital in Peshawar, where an emergency was declared.
Our thoughts are with the families who lost their children and loved ones. We will update this article as officials confirm the final toll and the findings of the inquiry.
