At least 14 children killed in Lahore roof collapse

LAHORE: At least 14 children were killed and eight others, including a teacher, injured on Tuesday when the roof of a residential building housing an illegal, home-based tuition centre collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area, rescue and police officials said.

More than 30 students were inside the makeshift academy, located in a house in the Basti Eidgah neighbourhood of Kahna, when the structure suddenly caved in and trapped dozens under heavy debris.

A spokesperson for the Edhi Foundation, confirmed that 14 bodies had been recovered from the site and shifted to the mortuary at Lahore General Hospital. The five injured children were rushed to nearby medical facilities.

Initial investigations indicate that faulty construction work triggered the tragedy.

Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Operations Faisal Kamran said the contractor responsible for building the structure was arrested shortly after the incident.

“A portion of the house was under construction, and labourers were actively working when the roof collapsed,” Kamran said.

He said that preliminary findings suggested that the roof collapsed after a supporting girder gave way under the increased load caused by mud filling and ongoing construction work on the roof, he said.

The injured, including eight children and one teacher, were shifted to hospital for treatment.

Speaking to HUM News, Faisal Kamran said that the daughter of the building’s owner was among those killed.

Police have detained five people as part of the investigation into the incident, Kamran said, adding that strict legal action would be taken against those found responsible for negligence.

He said the Punjab Forensic Science Agency had also been called in to help determine the exact cause of the collapse.

Kamran said the immediate priority for police and rescue teams was to ensure the injured received the best possible medical treatment while the investigation continued.

Rescue teams, backed by local residents and heavy machinery, spent several hours cutting through concrete slabs and clearing rubble to look for survivors.

Health authorities declared an emergency at the nearby Lahore General Hospital, deploying extra doctors and paramedical staff to treat the victims.

The District Education Authority said the facility was a completely unregulated private centre run by a local female resident.

“We are inspecting the site and will take strict action against those involved in operating this unregistered facility,” said Tariq Mahmood, Chief Executive Officer of the Lahore District Education Authority.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered police and district authorities to launch criminal proceedings against all individuals found responsible for the structural failure and the resulting loss of life.

Meanwhile, the Tehsil Headquarter (THQ) Hospital Kahna has released the identities of the victims brought to the facility.

According to hospital administration, the victims include young siblings and multiple children under the age of ten.

The details released by the hospital are as follows:

Deceased

Abdullah, 8, son of Mustafa

Salman, 8, son of Wasim

Urooj, 9, daughter of Mustafa,

Mah Noor, 8, daughter of Farooq

Tashbeeh, 7, daughter of Shehzada

Fawad, 8, son of Muhammad Abid

Iman Fatima, 11, daughter of Mustafa

Khadija, 12, daughter of Wasim

Urooj, 6, daughter of Murtaza

Murtaza, 4,

Rimsha, 6

Ali, 6, son of Farman

Arham, 8, son of Hassan Ali

Dua, 7, daughter of Gulfam

Abdullah, 7, son of Asghar

Injured under Treatment (All in Stable Condition)

Abiha, 8

Fariha, 10

Murtaza, 11

Ayan, 8

Rabia, 7

Hameeda Rehan, 30

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday expressed deep sorrow and grief over the loss of precious young lives following the tragic roof collapse in the Kahna area.

In an official statement, the prime minister conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for the departed souls.

He also offered prayers for the swift recovery of the children injured in the incident, directing relevant authorities to ensure that the best possible medical treatment is provided to them without delay.

Meanwhile, PPP CHairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday expressed grief over the deaths of children in the roof collapse at a tuition centre in Lahore and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

In a statement, Bilawal said he was deeply saddened by the tragic incident near Kachwana Road in Lahore’s Kahna area.

He urged rescue workers, teachers and other emergency responders to make every possible effort in the rescue and relief operation.

Bilawal also expressed solidarity with the parents and families of the children who lost their lives in the incident.