The death toll from the collapse of a private school roof in Peshawar rose to 35 on Thursday, including 34 children and a female teacher, as rescue teams continued searching the wreckage for people feared trapped beneath the debris.
Hospital authorities confirmed that 33 bodies, including those of 32 children and a teacher, had been brought to Lady Reading Hospital (LRH). Two other children were pronounced dead at Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital, according to Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Ibrahim.
All the children who died were aged 14 or younger.
More than 50 people were reported injured in the incident. LRH spokesperson Muhammad Asim said an emergency had been declared at the hospital, where senior medical officials were supervising treatment in the trauma ward.
Of the 20 injured children brought to LRH, most had been discharged after receiving treatment. However, three children with serious head injuries remained admitted.
The tragedy occurred at a three-storey private school in Dir Colony, a densely populated neighbourhood where narrow streets complicated access for ambulances and rescue vehicles.
Capital City Police Officer Dr Mian Saeed said the school owner had been taken into custody and that a criminal case would be registered.
According to the police chief, the building suffered from several structural deficiencies, including poorly constructed roofs. He said the collapsed slab had been built using choka, a construction material involving thin clay tiles or specially shaped bricks.
The officer also raised concerns that the structure may have been overloaded and said investigators would examine possible violations of building regulations.
The school reportedly had 110 enrolled students, with approximately 30 children present in classrooms on the upper floor when the roof gave way.
Authorities warned that the remaining structure was unstable and could suffer further damage, creating additional risks for rescue workers and people gathered nearby.
Rescue 1122 deployed ambulances and disaster-response teams to the scene, while Pakistan Army personnel joined emergency services in clearing debris, searching for survivors and transporting the injured.
Officials said rescue operations were continuing, with concerns that additional victims could remain beneath the rubble.
A formal investigation is expected to determine the cause of the collapse and establish responsibility for any negligence or construction violations.