29 Dead, Including 28 Children, After School Roof Collapses in Pakistan as Owner Is Arrested

A devastating school building collapse in northwestern Pakistan has claimed at least 29 lives, including 28 children and a female teacher, leaving families grieving and raising urgent questions about school safety.

The tragedy occurred on October 15, 2026, at a private school in Peshawar, the capital of Pakistan’s Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province. Students were attending classes when the building’s roof collapsed, trapping children and staff beneath the rubble.

According to reports, the victims included children between the ages of 7 and 16. More than 40 people were reportedly injured, prompting hospitals and emergency services to respond as rescue workers rushed to the scene.

Rescuers worked through the debris to reach those trapped inside the damaged building. Medical teams treated the injured, while hospitals declared an emergency to accommodate the large number of casualties.

Authorities confirmed that the school’s owner had been arrested as investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the collapse. Officials are looking into the building’s structural condition and whether construction standards or safety requirements were violated. The arrest does not itself establish criminal responsibility, which will be determined through the legal process.

The disaster also prompted reactions from Pakistani officials, who expressed condolences to the victims’ families and called for an investigation. Authorities emphasized the need to examine school building safety and determine whether similar risks exist at other educational institutions.

For the families who sent their children to school that morning, the tragedy has brought unimaginable grief. As investigators work to establish what caused the collapse, questions remain about whether the disaster could have been prevented.

Source: PEOPLE