Peshawar school tragedy claims 35 lives, investigation begins

The families of children who perished in a roof collapse in Peshawar’s Afridi Abad area have demanded justice following the incident which claimed the lives of more than 30 individuals, including students and a female teacher. Tailor Muhammad Wahab, whose 11-year-old nephew Hammad was among the victims, called for justice for all the families affected, noting that Hammad had been excelling in school prior to the tragedy.

Dozens of mourners gathered outside the school to pay their respects to the children who lost their lives, with the collapse blamed on the poor state of the infrastructure. Parents spoke of their grief, with one father showing an image of his daughter, who also lost her life, and another recounting the loss of a son, nephew, and three other relatives.

Rescuers described the chaotic aftermath, with Sohail recounting how they pulled around 10 to 15 children from the rubble. A fact-finding committee was established, tasked with submitting a report within seven days. The Governor of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Faisal Karim Kundi, vowed to hold those responsible accountable, promising legal action within 15 days and compensation of Rs1 million for each bereaved family and Rs300,000 for each injured person.