At least 28 killed, including 27 children and a teacher, after school roof collapses in Peshawar

At least 28 people including 27 students and one female teacher, were killed on Thursday morning when the roof of a private school collapsed during classes in Peshawar’s Dir Colony Afridi Abad area.

Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Muhammad Asim confirmed the death toll, which rose from earlier figures, and said most of the victims were children aged 13 or younger. Around 19 to more than 40 others were injured, with several reported in critical condition. An emergency was declared at the hospital.

The incident occurred at Al-Khair Education Center (also referred to as Al Khair School), a privately run institution. Students were in their classrooms when the roof of an upper floor gave way, causing the structure below to collapse and trapping those inside under the debris. Rescue 1122 teams, local residents, and emergency workers pulled dozens of children from the rubble; officials said more than 40–45 people had been extracted, though some remained feared trapped earlier in the operation.

Peshawar Capital City Police Officer Mian Saeed said the school building was structurally weak, with the roof overloaded by construction on a weak structure. Police arrested the school’s owner. Deputy Commissioner Afaq Wazir ordered an investigation into the cause of the collapse.

Heavy rainfall was cited by some rescue officials as a possible contributing factor. Ambulances rushed the dead and injured to hospitals as parents gathered at the scene and at Lady Reading Hospital seeking information about their children. Officials warned the death toll could rise as rescue work continued.