LAHORE: At least 14 children were killed and several others injured after the roof of a school academy collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area.
According to Punjab Health Minister, the death toll from the tragic incident has reached 14. Rescue officials said around 20 to 25 people, including a female teacher and mostly young children, were present inside the tuition center at the time of the collapse.
Rescue authorities said they received information about the incident at 4:45pm, after which teams launched an operation and recovered several children from under the debris. Officials had earlier warned that the death toll could rise.
Residents said the building was also being used as a school during morning hours, while children were attending tuition classes at the academy when the roof collapsed.
Police said construction work was underway on the upper floor of the building, while children were present on the ground floor. After the incident, two people, including the house owner, were taken into custody.
Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Lahore Faisal Kamran said the roof was weak and constructed with girders, adding that rainfall had further weakened the structure. He confirmed that 14 children were killed and nine injured, while five people were detained for investigation.
Rescue officials said the operation has been completed, with 20 children recovered from the debris. Among them, 14 lost their lives while six injured children were shifted to hospitals for medical treatment.
Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said the children were studying under a deteriorated roof at a privately operated tuition center established inside a house. She said Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz was personally monitoring the situation and rescue teams reached the site immediately.
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She added that more than 18 children were initially shifted to hospitals and that the government’s priority was rescuing children from the rubble. She said medical facilities, medicines and doctors were available at hospitals.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of young lives and prayed for the departed souls and patience for the bereaved families. He also directed authorities to provide the best possible medical treatment to the injured.
Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz took notice of the incident, sought an immediate report and ordered identification of those responsible. She directed provincial ministers to oversee rescue and relief efforts.
DIG Operations said the rescue operation had been completed and the area cleared, while police had started a detailed investigation into the causes of the collapse.
