Thousands of Pakistanis participated in funeral prayers in Peshawar after a school roof collapsed, killing at least 34 children and one teacher, with over 50 injured, while authorities are rushing to investigate the cause.
On 16 October 2026, thousands of Pakistanis gathered in Peshawar for funeral prayers following a school roof collapse that killed at least 35 people, including 34 children and one teacher. Additionally, over 50 students were injured. Officials and hospital administrators said this was the deadliest roof collapse they had ever encountered.
Reports indicate that residents of the Dear Colony neighborhood, where the school is located, revealed that most of the deceased children lived nearby, causing many families to lose their children. Local resident Saleem Khan called on the government to conduct a thorough investigation and quickly deliver results to prevent the incident from being forgotten within days.
Peshawar Police Commissioner Saeed Ahmed stated that the school owner, Mohammad Khan, has been arrested due to the building's weak structure. However, the owner blamed the heavy rains over the past week for weakening the roof, which then collapsed. The provincial government has formed a committee to investigate the cause of the collapse of the three-story school building.
Source: AP