Families mourn as Peshawar school-collapse investigation begins

Families in Peshawar mourned the children killed when the roof of the Al-Khair Education Center collapsed during classes on Thursday, as authorities began an investigation and announced an audit of similar school buildings.

Thirty-four students, all younger than 13, and a female teacher were killed in the collapse. About 110 students had been attending lessons in three classrooms when the roof came down.

Hospital officials said that most of the 45 injured children had been treated and discharged, while three remained in critical condition. Residents and relatives helped pull children from the debris before emergency crews completed the rescue operation.

Peshawar police chief Mian Saeed said the roof had been overloaded with construction on a weak structure. The school owner was arrested, while the cause and any legal responsibility remain subject to the investigation.

Authorities said the review of school buildings would examine whether similar premises present safety risks. The announced audit is a preventive measure; it does not establish the cause of the Peshawar collapse or determine responsibility before investigators complete their work.

The development has placed attention on the physical safety of schools used by children, particularly where buildings may require technical assessment. The immediate verified steps are the investigation into the collapse, the owner’s arrest, and the planned audit of other school premises.

No final investigation findings have been announced. The condition of the injured children and the outcome of the building-safety review remain key developments to watch.