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Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) spokesperson Muhammad Asim said 33 bodies were brought to the hospital, which included 32 children and one teacher, while Deputy Medical Superintendent Dr Ibrahim of Naseerullah Babar Memorial Hospital said that the bodies of two children were also brought to the hospital.
Asim said an emergency was declared at LRH, with senior hospital officials present in the trauma ward to oversee the treatment of the injured, some of whom were in critical condition.
According to the list issued by the LRH, a total of 53 patients were brought to the hospital, including 36 men and 12 women. Of these, 17 were discharged after observation, while 33 died. All children were aged 14 or younger.
Speaking to the media, Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Peshawar, Dr Mian Saeed, said that the school owner had been taken into custody and a case would be registered over the incident.
He said the school’s roof had been poorly constructed and that the building was located in narrow streets, which had made rescue operations difficult, adding that a total of 110 children were enrolled at the school.
CCPO Saeed further told media that the three-storey building was located in the densely populated Dir Colony, where narrow streets were creating difficulties for rescue operations. He said the building fell within the jurisdiction of the relevant local police station and that 30 children had been present in classrooms on the upper floor when the roof collapsed.
He added that the building had several deficiencies and that the roof slab had been constructed using choka- thin, flat clay tiles or custom-tapered bricks.
CCPO Saeed said that the building was in a dangerous condition and posed a risk of further damage, adding that rescue teams were working to move people out immediately and appealed to people to cooperate with the rescue efforts.
Expressing concern over the possibility of further casualties, he said the building appeared to have been overloaded and questioned how much weight the roof slab could bear. He added that the authorities would examine which building regulations had been violated and conduct a proper inquiry into the incident to determine responsibility for the negligence.
Later in the day, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Inspector General of Police Zulfiqar Hameed also visited the school and inspected the site. Speaking to the media, he said he had ordered an investigation into the roof collapse, adding that terrorism charges could also be included in the case against the school owner.
He said the First Information Report would be registered by the state and an inquiry committee had been formed to investigate the incident.
The IGP said the Special Branch had been directed to submit a report identifying the departments whose negligence had contributed to the incident. An official report would also be issued detailing the lapses by the departments concerned.He conlcuded that the school owner would be given an appropriate punishment.
Rescue 1122 said ambulances and disaster response vehicles were dispatched to the site, where rescue teams launched operations and shifted injured children to hospital. "The rescue operation was underway to search for more people trapped under the debris," Rescue 1122 added.
Following the incident, Pakistan Army personnel also reached the site and joined rescue and relief agencies in efforts to recover children and school staff feared trapped beneath the rubble and transport the injured to hospitals.
President Asif Ali Zardari expressed deep shock and sorrow over the deaths and injuries of children and teachers in a school accident in Peshawar. “This heartbreaking tragedy has left the entire nation in shock,” the president said, according to the statement issued by the President of Pakistan.
He expressed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the families of those who lost their lives and the bereaved families. “May Allah Almighty grant the deceased a high place in Jannat-ul-Firdous and give the grieving families the courage and patience to bear this irreparable loss,” he said.
The president also prayed for the speedy and complete recovery of those injured in the accident. He directed the relevant authorities to provide the best possible medical facilities to the injured and extend all possible assistance to the affected families.
“The entire nation shares the grief of the affected families in this hour of sorrow,” he said.
He also stressed the need for a comprehensive investigation to determine the causes of the accident and ensure safety standards in educational institution buildings to prevent such tragic incidents in the future.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of life in the roof collapse and prayed for the elevation of the ranks of those killed
In a statement, the prime minister extended his condolences to the bereaved families and prayed for them to have patience and strength. PM Shehbaz also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured, directed that they be provided with the best possible medical treatment, and ordered the authorities to expedite rescue operations.
The prime minister later spoke to the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi by telephone and extended his condolences and sympathies to the bereaved families and directed the authorities to ensure the best possible medical facilities for those injured and provide all possible assistance to the affected families.He also sought a detailed report on the incident.
Kundi briefed the prime minister on the incident and informed him that the school owner had been arrested and an investigation had begun. PM Shehbaz directed the authorities to examine all aspects of the incident and ensure that those responsible were proceeded against in accordance with the law.
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar expressed deep sorrow over the collapse of a school roof in Peshawar, in a post on X. “The collapse of a school roof in Peshawar, resulting in the tragic loss of 17 precious lives, has deeply pained the entire nation,” he added.
The deputy prime minister said, “Our children are our most precious asset, and every such loss is a tragedy for the entire country.”
He extended heartfelt condolences and prayers to the bereaved families, praying that Allah Almighty grant the deceased the highest place in Jannah and give their families patience and strength to bear the irreparable loss.
DPM Dar said that the prime minister and the government took "serious notice" of the incident, and that ensuring the safety and protection of the country's children "must remain paramount."
"All necessary measures must be taken to provide immediate assistance to those affected, ensure the best possible medical care for the injured, and strengthen safety standards in our schools to prevent such tragedies from recurring," the deputy prime minister stated.
Governor Kundi also expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended his heartfelt condolences and sympathies to the families of the children killed in the incident.
“The loss of precious lives of innocent children is an extremely painful tragedy,” he said. The governor prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured children and directed the relevant authorities to provide them with the best possible medical facilities.
He also sought a detailed report from the relevant authorities on the school roof collapse and directed them to determine the cause of the incident. “May Allah Almighty grant the martyred children a place in His mercy and give their bereaved families the strength to bear this loss,” Governor Kundi said.
IGP Hameed took notice of the incident, expressing great sorrow and directed the CCPO to personally supervise rescue operations.
He ordered the immediate and safe recovery of people trapped under the rubble and directed the Peshawar Chief Traffic Officer to establish a green corridor to ensure the uninterrupted movement of ambulances.
The IGP stressed that traffic flow on all routes leading to hospitals must be ensured and instructed the Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations and police rescue teams to utilise all available resources at the site. He said the K-P Police stood with the affected families and prayed for the speedy and complete recovery of the injured children and teachers.
Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also expressed deep grief over the deaths, saying he was deeply shocked by the tragic news. He said he understood the profound grief of the parents who had lost their children and directed the administration to expedite rescue operations and immediately recover those trapped under the rubble.