At least 14 schoolchildren lost their lives when the roof of a tutoring center collapsed in Lahore, Pakistan, as confirmed by emergency officials. Additionally, eight children sustained injuries in the incident and are currently receiving medical treatment at a nearby hospital, according to senior police official Faisal Kamran, who also mentioned the arrest of the tutoring center owner and another individual.
Rescuers are actively searching through the debris following reports suggesting that more children might be trapped underneath, stated Mr. Kamran. The tutoring center was situated in an old building, and the collapse of the unfinished second-floor roof was attributed to poor construction quality.
Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the collapse at the evening school building, offering condolences to the victims’ families and wishing a speedy recovery to the injured. He emphasized the necessity for effective safety measures to prevent similar incidents.
Building collapses are a common occurrence in Pakistan due to lax enforcement of construction standards, the use of substandard materials, and neglect of safety regulations to cut costs. Witnesses reported rapid responses from ambulances and rescue teams following the roof collapse, with residents also aiding the search efforts by clearing rubble to rescue trapped children.
As the bodies of the children were being handed over to their families, heart-wrenching scenes unfolded outside hospitals and in the neighborhood where the tutoring center was located. Most victims resided nearby, and funeral prayers were expected to take place later that day.
Residents expressed a mix of grief and anger, demanding strict punishment for the tutoring center owner for conducting classes in what they deemed an unsafe and deteriorating building. Mourners gathered outside the victims’ homes to offer condolences, reflecting the community’s shared sense of loss and solidarity.
Lahore, the capital of Punjab province in Pakistan, sees many parents enrolling their children in private tutoring centers during afternoon and evening hours.