Pakistan Army teams have actively participated in the relief and rescue activities following the deadly roof collapse of a private school in Dir Colony, Peshawar, which claimed the lives of at least 28 children and a female teacher.
According to local administration and security sources, Pakistan Army’s Urban Search and Rescue teams, along with Corps of Engineers, reached the site within a short time after the incident was reported.
The Army teams brought heavy machinery, engineering equipment, and specialized rescue tools to assist Rescue 1122 and Peshawar Police. Eyewitnesses said Army personnel immediately cordoned off the collapsed building, cleared the heavy crowd of parents and locals to make way for rescue machinery, and started a systematic operation to remove concrete slabs and iron rods.
Sources said Pak Army Jawans worked side-by-side with Rescue 1122 rescuers, carefully lifting debris with cranes and cutters to avoid harm to any children still trapped underneath.
Army medical teams and ambulances were also deployed on the spot to provide first aid and to ensure speedy shifting of the critically injured to Lady Reading Hospital, where emergency has been imposed.
Because of the narrow streets and congested area of Dir Colony, Army engineers played a crucial role in managing the movement of heavy rescue vehicles and ensuring that rescuework continued without interruption.
Officials said Pak Army teams are maintaining close coordination with the civil administration, CCPO Peshawar and Deputy Commissioner Peshawar to ensure no child remains under the rubble.
Army teams will remain on site until the rescue operation is fully completed and the area is declared clear. Meanwhile, CCPO Peshawar Dr. Mian Saeed confirmed that the school owner Khan Muhammad Darvesh has been arrested and an investigation has been launched into the substandard construction of the school building.
The timely arrival and professional support of Pakistan Army has been widely appreciated by local residents and parents, who said the Army’s help accelerated the rescue operation and saved precious lives.
Read also: School owner Khan Muhammad Darvesh arrested, FIR registered
