PESHAWAR: The preliminary investigation into the deadly roof collapse at Al-Khair Public School in Dir Colony Peshawar, has been completed, with initial findings reportedly pointing to negligence by the school administration in ensuring the safety of students and teachers.
According to sources, a joint investigation involving five departments found that the school building was in an extremely weak condition and had sustained further damage during recent rainfall. Despite the deteriorating structure, the school administration allegedly failed to take effective measures to protect students and staff.
The preliminary report, prepared following investigations by the Capital City Police, Metropolitan authorities, Rescue 1122 and the Communications and Works (C&W) Department, along with other relevant officials, has reportedly been submitted to the provincial government by Rescue 1122 and the district administration.
According to the initial findings, the roof of the school’s upper floor had weakened due to rainfall. Students had reportedly informed school owner Khan Muhammad about its deteriorating condition before the incident.
Despite these warnings, the school administration allegedly continued to call students to school. The owner had reportedly provided temporary support to the roof, but the building remained vulnerable.
The report states that the incident occurred in a side classroom of the school’s lower building when a roof section collapsed from the third floor. The height of the collapsing section was estimated at between 20 and 25 feet.
Sources said the joint investigation found that several parts of the school building were already damaged before the recent rains, which further weakened the structure.
The inquiry reportedly highlighted a failure to implement effective safety measures for students and teachers despite the building’s deteriorating condition.
School owner Khan Muhammad is currently in police custody, and further action against the school administration is expected in light of the preliminary findings.
According to sources, the school administration maintained that the building had been in good condition.
The initial findings, however, have raised serious questions about whether adequate precautions were taken after the roof reportedly became weakened by rainfall and whether students should have been allowed to attend classes under those circumstances.
Officials are expected to determine the final causes of the collapse after further investigation and a detailed review of the available evidence.
The preliminary findings have renewed concerns over the structural safety of private educational institutions in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and the need for regular inspections, timely repairs and strict enforcement of building safety standards.
35 students dead, 47 injured as private school rooms collapsed
Earlier, at least 35 school children, including a school teacher, were killed and 47 others were injured when the roof of a classroom suddenly collapsed during school hours.
According to Rescue 1122 Spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faiz, initial reports suggest that several students were inside the classroom at the time of the incident and are feared to be trapped under the debris.
Immediately after the incident, Rescue 1122’s ambulances and disaster response vehicles were dispatched to the location. A large contingent of rescue personnel along with local police reached the spot and started a search and rescue operation.
Rescue teams have so far pulled out more than 47 injured children from the rubble and after providing initial first aid on the spot, shifted them to a nearby hospital for further treatment.
The incident took place around 9:00 AM in a densely populated area of Dir Colony. Two classrooms on the upper portion completely collapsed, trapping students underneath. Most of the victims are students of Class 6th and 7th, aged between 11 and 14 years. The owner Muhammad Khan is an old PTI affiliate who was running a private school in the morning and a private madrassa in the evening. Low cost, high-turnout model to churn out money from lower / lower middle class families. The school premises were also recently used for a local PTI meeting in preparation of long march.
