Pakistan School Roof Collapse Kills 35 as Police Reveal Detail About 'Overloaded' Building and Detain Owner

At least 35 people, including 34 children and a teacher, have died after the roof of a private school collapsed in Pakistan, with police revealing that excessive construction weight may have contributed to the disaster.

The tragedy unfolded on Thursday, 15 October, at Al-Khair Education Centre in Peshawar, where pupils were attending morning lessons when part of the three-storey building gave way. Police have detained the school's owner as investigators examine whether structural problems contributed to the collapse, Reuters reported.

Peshawar Capital City Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed Ahmed cited a 'weak' structure and an 'overloaded' roof as factors he believed contributed to the collapse. Emergency workers spent several hours searching through the wreckage as distressed parents gathered outside, desperately seeking information about their children.

Television footage showed rescuers removing debris by hand and carrying injured pupils towards ambulances as crowds filled the narrow streets surrounding the school.

Police Cite Structural Weaknesses as School Owner Detained

Mian Saeed Ahmed identified the building's deteriorating condition and excessive weight on its roof as possible factors behind the catastrophe. 'Its roof was overweight with construction on a weak structure that caused the collapse,' Ahmed told AFP.

According to investigators, additional construction had placed considerable pressure on an already vulnerable structure. The upper section subsequently collapsed onto classrooms beneath it, bringing down two levels while children and teachers were inside.

Police subsequently detained the institution's owner, although the investigation has yet to establish definitive responsibility for the deaths. According to The Associated Press, the owner, identified as Mohammad Khan, suggested that rainfall earlier in the week had weakened the roof. Authorities have not confirmed whether the weather contributed to the collapse, and officials have established an inquiry committee to determine what happened.

Children Trapped as Rescuers Battle Through Rubble

The disaster struck at approximately 8:48am local time, triggering a rescue operation that continued for between four and five hours. Emergency personnel faced considerable obstacles because the school stood in a densely populated neighbourhood with restricted access. Residents joined professional responders in clearing fallen concrete and other debris, while ambulances transported casualties to nearby medical facilities.

At Lady Reading Hospital, medical personnel declared an emergency to accommodate the casualties. Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim confirmed that three children had suffered serious head injuries and remained in critical condition. Among those who died were 12 girls and a female teacher. Many other injured pupils received treatment before being discharged.

One father, Samiullah, described rushing to the school after receiving a telephone call about the disaster. He helped rescue three young girls and initially feared that his own son had been killed. However, the boy survived because he had briefly left his classroom to get drinking water before the structure collapsed.

Grieving Families Demand Accountability as Government Orders Investigation

Relatives of the victims have called for accountability following the collapse. Mohammad Zaman, who lost two nephews, demanded severe consequences for anyone found responsible, arguing that educational institutions should not operate without adequate facilities and protections for children.

'Make an example of them, a lesson for all, so that no one dares ​open a school just to make money without providing facilities,' Zaman said.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi has ordered a detailed examination of the incident and called for structural safety inspections at educational institutions throughout the province. The proposed assessments are intended to identify dangerous buildings and allow authorities to address potential hazards before another disaster occurs.

This is a developing story. Further updates will be provided as more information becomes available.