Peshawar tragedy: FIR registered over school collapse that killed 34

PESHAWAR: Police have registered a case over the deadly collapse at Al-Khair Education System in Peshawar’s Dir Colony, with the first information report (FIR) alleging that substandard construction materials and deteriorating walls and roofs contributed to the tragedy. The death toll, which stood at 31 when the FIR was registered, later rose to 34.

The FIR, registered at Agha Mir Jani Shah police station, initially reported that 30 children and a female teacher had died, while 52 people were injured. Subsequent reports put the death toll at 34, including 32 children and two teachers.

According to the FIR, complaints had previously been made about the deteriorating condition of the school’s walls and roofs, but the owners allegedly failed to address the concerns despite complaints from children.

The report states that the roof of a nursery classroom on the school’s second floor collapsed, bringing down the room directly beneath it. The building was described as having rooms arranged around an open central area.

According to the FIR, the private school stands on a 16-marla plot owned by suspects Waheed and Javed. The land was leased in 2024, after which the school building was constructed.

A case has been registered against the school owners, shareholders and the contractor who constructed the building. The charges include Section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code, relating to causing death by a wrongful act, as well as Sections 148 and 149, concerning rioting while armed with a deadly weapon and liability for acts committed by members of an unlawful assembly.

Police said efforts were under way to arrest the suspects named in the case. The school was being run by a welfare trust called Al-Khair, while police also collected details of the principal and teachers as part of the investigation.

The collapse occurred at around 9am on October 15 in a densely populated part of Dir Colony. Police said narrow lanes leading to the school hampered rescue efforts. Capital City Police Officer Saeed Ahmad said the structure appeared to have been overloaded and pointed to the use of brick in the lintel. The cause of the collapse, however, remained subject to investigation.

Authorities were expected to examine possible building code violations, the school’s approvals and whether the structure had undergone the required safety inspections.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif sought a detailed report on the incident and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and assistance for affected families. He also called for legal action against those found responsible.

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the deaths and injuries and called for a thorough investigation. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi also ordered assistance for the injured and called for a structural safety audit of educational institutions across the province.

The tragedy has renewed concerns about the safety of school buildings in Pakistan, following other deadly school-related collapses reported in Sialkot, Dera Ghazi Khan and Lahore this year.