A devastating roof collapse at a private tuition centre in Lahore’s Kahna area has claimed the lives of 14 children, leaving several others injured in one of Pakistan’s deadliest educational tragedies in recent years.
The incident occurred on Tuesday, June 30, when dozens of children were attending classes inside a privately-run tuition centre operating from a residential building. Rescue workers, police, volunteers and residents spent hours removing debris in a desperate search for survivors before authorities officially concluded the operation later in the evening.
What Happened
This tragedy happened while many children were learning in classes inside the tuition center. According to reports from the police and the rescuers, the roof collapsed suddenly, leaving children and a teacher trapped under the rubble. Several people including Rescues 1122, volunteers from Edhi Foundation, police, and the local residents tried their best to bring out the survivors of this tragedy. They worked hard throughout the day until the operation was completed in the evening.
According to the health minister of Punjab, Khawaja Imran Nazeer, 14 children had died, while several others were rescued with injuries. The victims were estimated to be between the ages of five and sixteen years, most of whom were thought to be under the age of nine. A female teacher had also been rescued along with other children. The injured had been taken from the scene to the hospital in Kahna and then from there to Lahore General Hospital.
What Investigators Know So Far
According to preliminary results, the tuition center was situated within a building under construction. According to the police, the labourers were apparently engaged in construction when the roof collapsed. Moreover, according to rescue workers, the roof was constructed through the use of TR girders – something that is being investigated as part of the technical inquiry into the roof’s collapse. A definitive conclusion has not yet been reached; rather, experts will ascertain if there was any structural deficiency or renovation that caused the accident.
Both the owner of the building and the contractor involved in the construction have been apprehended by the police. Lahore DIG Operations Faisal Kamran said evidence was being collected and assured that anyone found responsible would face strict legal action. A criminal investigation has been launched to determine whether negligence, illegal construction or violations of building regulations contributed to the collapse.
Official Reactions
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the deaths, directing authorities to provide the best possible medical care to the injured and ensure those responsible are held accountable. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz described the incident as a heartbreaking tragedy and ordered an immediate inquiry, saying there would be no leniency for anyone whose negligence led to the loss of innocent lives.
Lahore Commissioner Marryam Khan called for an immediate inquiry while overseeing the rescue and relief operations. The rescue officials said that there were panic scenes with families who were standing outside the building and looking for their children.
As investigators continue gathering evidence, the focus remains on determining exactly what caused the collapse – and whether it could have been prevented. For the families of the 14 children who never returned home, those answers cannot come soon enough.
Sources: DAWN News, and Al Jazeera.