The roof of a private school in Peshawar, Pakistan, collapsed during morning classes on Thursday

The roof of a private school in Peshawar, Pakistan, collapsed during morning classes on Thursday, October 15, 2026, killing at least 34 children and a teacher while injuring over 50 others.

The disaster struck the privately run Al-Khair Education Center, located in the Dir Colony neighbourhood of Peshawar, the capital of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Regional emergency services officials reported that the ceiling caved in during first-period lessons while roughly 110 students were inside three classrooms on the lower levels. Most of the victims were children aged 13 or younger from low-income households in the densely populated area.

Rescuers Dig Through Rubble in Peshawar

Emergency responders and local residents rushed to the congested alleyway to claw through rubble with bare hands before ambulances arrived. Disaster management personnel reached the site within minutes, according to Bilal Faizi, who credited the rapid evacuation with saving dozens of lives. Nearly 100 rescuers ultimately joined the five-hour operation.

The state-run Lady Reading Hospital declared an emergency as ambulances brought in the wounded. Hospital spokesperson Mohammad Asim Khan confirmed that casualties included children between six and 12 years old alongside older pupils up to age 14. Dozens of injured individuals received treatment, with several admitted in critical condition due to severe head trauma.

Survivors Recall Sudden Building Collapse

Survivors and local witnesses described sudden destruction as upper levels gave way. Mahwish Zaman, an injured teacher recovering in a hospital bed, recalled the moment the three-storey building failed.

I was in my classroom when the roof collapsed and felt as if the sky had fallen.

Mahwish Zaman, injured teacher, via Associated Press

Local resident Samiullah Khan rushed to the scene and pulled three young girls from the debris. His own son escaped injury because he had stepped out of his classroom to drink water. Another resident, Zahir Hussain, told reporters that the building was overcrowded and completely unsuitable for use as a school.

Police Arrest School Owner After Tragedy

Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed stated that the school’s owner had been arrested and a formal criminal investigation launched. Authorities pointed to structural deficiencies as the primary factor behind the disaster.

It was a weak building structure. Its roof was overloaded with construction on a weak structure, which caused the collapse.

Mian Saeed, Peshawar police chief, via Reuters

Provincial and federal leaders offered condolences as grief gripped the neighbourhood. In Islamabad, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued a statement demanding comprehensive inquiries. Prime Minister Sharif stressed the urgent need to verify that all educational facilities meet basic safety regulations.

Peshawar education secretary Inayatullah Waseem directed the Private Schools Regulatory Authority to submit an official report on the tragedy. Meanwhile, hundreds of mourners gathered at the nearby Rehman Baba cemetery for mass funeral prayers as local mosques broadcast announcements urging community participation.