Lahore roof collapse claims 14 young lives

Construction work was underway on roof of tuition centre at time of accident

LAHORE:

At least 14 children were killed and nine others, including a teacher, were injured after the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in Lahore's Kahna area on Tuesday, triggering a massive rescue operation as authorities launched an investigation into the tragedy.

The incident occurred in Basti Eid Gah near Qurban School on Ferozepur Road, where dozens of children were attending classes when the roof of a room inside a residential building caved in.

Initial emergency calls received at around 4:45pm reported that eight to 10 children had been trapped beneath the rubble, prompting an immediate response from Rescue 1122, Edhi volunteers, police and district administration officials.

The collapsed roof had been constructed using TR girders.

Rescue teams, assisted by local residents, worked for several hours to remove debris and recover those trapped underneath. Ambulances shifted the injured to THQ Hospital Kahna, Lahore General Hospital and other healthcare facilities after emergency services declared a medical alert.

Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir confirmed after the rescue operation that more than 20 people had been pulled from the debris.

Fourteen children were brought dead to THQ Hospital Kahna, while five injured children remained under treatment. Two children who sustained comparatively minor injuries were discharged after receiving first aid, according to official updates.

Police officials said the children attending the tuition centre were between five and 16 years of age. Authorities said more than 30 students were believed to have been present inside the academy when the roof gave way.

Lahore DIG Operations Faisal Kamran reached the site shortly after the collapse and later visited THQ Hospital Kahna to inquire about the condition of the injured children. He also met grieving families and assured them that those responsible would be brought to justice.

Addressing the media, the DIG confirmed the casualty figures.

"Eight children and one teacher are injured and hospitalised. Apart from that, the death of 14 children is confirmed," he said. The DIG said the structure comprised a single-storey room with a roof supported by TR girders.

The DIG added that construction work had been underway on the roof and the number of labourers working there had exceeded the roof's load-bearing capacity, causing a girder to break and the roof to collapse onto the tuition centre below.

"We have detained the people running the tuition centre and are interrogating them while considering various aspects," he said.

The DIG said the immediate priority was to ensure medical treatment for the injured, adding that an investigation into the incident was under way. He said the deceased children were local residents. He assured the media that legal proceedings would be initiated against those found responsible.

Police identified those taken into custody as the building owner, Rehan, his brother Muhammad Faizan and mason Umair.

According to investigators, construction work had reportedly been in progress on the building's roof while tuition classes continued below. Authorities said the exact cause of the collapse would be determined after a technical investigation.

In a statement, Lahore Police said evidence was being collected from the scene and legal proceedings had been initiated. Officials said all aspects of the incident, including possible negligence and violations of construction regulations, would be examined before responsibility was fixed.

Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Lahore Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi also visited the site and later the hospital. He directed traffic police to establish uninterrupted corridors for Rescue 1122 ambulances and emergency vehicles travelling between the accident site and hospitals.

Additional traffic personnel were deployed around the affected area, along Ferozepur Road and outside major public and private hospitals to ensure the smooth movement of emergency responders.

The CTO appealed to motorists to cooperate with traffic officials and immediately give way to ambulances to facilitate rescue and medical operations.

The tragedy has once again drawn attention to concerns over building safety and the enforcement of construction regulations in Pakistan. Building collapses continue to occur periodically across the country, often linked to ageing structures, unauthorised alterations or poor-quality construction.

Investigators are expected to submit a detailed report after examining the structural condition of the building and the circumstances surrounding the collapse.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives of the children.

In their separate statements, the president and the prime minister prayed for the eternal peace and elevation of the ranks of the departed souls.

They extended their condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident.

"The loss of innocent children's precious lives is a matter of profound sorrow for the entire nation. Effective safety measures are essential to prevent such tragedies in the future," the president said.

The prime minister directed the authorities to ensure that the injured received every possible medical assistance.