Peshawar school roof collapse kills four children and injures twenty

PESHAWAR: A tragic incident unfolded on Thursday when the roof of a private school in the Afridi Abad locality collapsed, resulting in at least 21 fatalities, including 20 students and a female teacher. Lady Reading Hospital's spokesperson, Muhammad Asim, confirmed the grim news, stating that 21 people had perished in the disaster.

An emergency was declared at the hospital. Earlier, Asim reported that 17 students had been killed, with all of them being under the age of 13. Another 17 injured students were taken to the hospital for treatment. The roof's collapse occurred while the students were inside their classroom. Rescue efforts were immediately initiated to remove debris and recover the victims.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Bilal Ahmed Faizi informed that around 20 people, including students and teachers, were transported to hospitals in the aftermath of the incident. Four people had already succumbed to their injuries, according to Faizi. Previous incidents across the country, mainly due to inadequate safety standards and substandard construction materials, have highlighted the pressing need for improved building regulations and practices.