A tragic roof collapse at a private tuition centre near the Pakistani city of Lahore has claimed the lives of 14 children, leaving several others injured and plunging the local community into mourning.
The devastating incident occurred in the Kahna suburb, where children were attending classes when the roof of the building suddenly gave way, trapping them beneath the rubble. Rescue workers rushed to the scene after receiving an emergency call at around 4.45pm local time and completed the operation within an hour. Most of the victims were believed to be between seven and 11 years old, while some children rescued from the site were under the age of 10.
Emergency services confirmed that another five people were injured in the collapse. Authorities have since launched an investigation into the cause of the tragedy, with two individuals taken into custody as part of the initial inquiry.
One relative, whose niece was among those killed, claimed the building had been in poor condition before the incident. He alleged that repair work was being carried out on roof tiles while classes were still in progress and suggested that additional weight placed on the roof may have contributed to the collapse.
The heartbreaking disaster has sent shockwaves through the neighbourhood, with grieving residents describing the overwhelming loss suffered by multiple families. One local resident said the community was struggling to decide which bereaved family to visit first because so many children had lost their lives.
Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif extended his condolences to the victims’ families and instructed authorities to ensure those injured receive the best possible medical treatment. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif also described the incident as a “heartbreaking tragedy”, vowing that anyone found responsible would face the full force of the law.
