Fourteen children lost their lives when the roof of a private tuition centre in Lahore’s Kahna suburb collapsed onto them, authorities say.
Students, all aged under ten, were occupying the premises when the sudden collapse sent debris downwards, crushing those beneath. Rescue 1122 received a distress call at 16:45 local time and completed the operation within an hour, bringing the remaining pupils to safety.
Medical teams later reported that most rescued children were between seven and eleven years old, while five others sustained injuries. Two individuals were detained by police as part of the preliminary investigation into the collapse.
Witnesses have raised concerns about the building’s roof condition. One resident shared that tiles were undergoing repair when the roof gave way, suggesting that added weight may have triggered the failure. Another neighbour noted that the roof had been structurally compromised before the incident.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed condolences and promised swift medical assistance for those harmed. Chief Minister of Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif labeled the event a heartbreaking tragedy and promised legal accountability for those responsible.
Images of the collapsed roof and emergency responses starkly illustrate the urgency of building safety standards in educational facilities across the region.
