School roof collapse in Peshawar kills at least 35

At least 34 children and a teacher were killed when roofs over two classrooms collapsed at the privately run Al-Khair school in Peshawar, Pakistani authorities and a hospital official told the Associated Press. More than 50 people were injured; some remained in critical condition. The children were aged between six and 14.

Emergency services said everyone trapped beneath the rubble had been recovered after an operation involving nearly 100 rescuers. The school had about 1,200 pupils enrolled, although only some classes were affected. Reuters reported an earlier, lower toll while rescue work was continuing, illustrating why initial disaster figures can change.

Police arrested the school’s owner. The provincial government formed a committee to investigate the collapse of the three-storey building, while officials described the structure as weak. The owner reportedly blamed recent rain; the cause has not been established by the inquiry.

The disaster raises urgent questions about inspections and enforcement in low-cost private education. Accountability will depend on the investigation’s findings, while the immediate priorities are treatment for survivors and transparent identification of any structural or regulatory failures.