Roof of Lahore tuition centre collapses during class, killing 14 children

The collapse

On Tuesday afternoon, the roof of a private tuition centre in Lahore’s Kahna Nau area caved in while children were studying inside. The centre, housed in an ageing private home, was in Basti Eid Gah, a disadvantaged neighbourhood in the south of Pakistan’s second-largest city. Witnesses said workers had been repairing tiles on the roof when it suddenly gave way.

Suddenly, the roof collapsed on a number of them. A large amount of weight was placed on the roof, and that is what caused the accident.

Police and rescue officials said the building’s second floor was unfinished and that the collapse appeared to have been caused by poor construction quality. The structure was described by authorities as precarious and in poor condition.

Rescue and victims

Emergency services received a call at 16:45 local time (12:45 BST), according to Rescue 1122 spokesman Farooq Ahmed. The rescue operation was completed within one hour. Most of the recovered children were between seven and eleven years old, though medical sources cited by AFP said the deceased ranged from roughly four to twelve.

Fourteen children were confirmed dead. Reports on the injured varied: early provincial statements put the figure at five, while other accounts said at least eight children and a teacher were hurt and taken to local hospitals, including Lahore General Hospital. Some children were discharged after initial treatment; others remained hospitalised. Rescuers from the Edhi Foundation and Rescue 1122 continued sifting through rubble amid reports that more children could be trapped.

Investigations and arrests

Police took at least two people into custody. Senior Lahore police official Faisal Kamran said the owner of the centre and another person had been arrested, while one Italian-language report indicated that up to five individuals, including the owner and others connected to the facility’s management, were detained. Authorities are examining whether the centre lacked proper permits and violated building safety regulations.

Those responsible for this incident will be identified through a transparent, impartial and immediate investigation.

Official reactions

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his “grief over the loss of precious lives” and instructed authorities to provide every possible medical assistance to the injured. President Asif Ali Zardari also offered condolences and said effective safety measures were needed to prevent similar tragedies. Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz requested an urgent report on the incident.

Recurring safety failures

Roof and building collapses are frequent in Pakistan, where safety standards are often poorly enforced and substandard construction materials are common. This latest incident echoes a collapse in July 2025, when a five-storey building gave way in the Lyari area of Karachi, killing 27 people and injuring ten.