At least four students lost their lives and 20 others were injured when the roof of a classroom collapsed at The Little Scholars School in Dera Ghazi Khan, Punjab, on Thursday morning. The incident occurred around 11:52 a.m. on a road between V and W blocks of the city.
Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Engineer Ahmad Kamal confirmed that the bodies of four children were recovered from the debris. The deceased were identified as Ghania Zohra (8), Masoom Fatima (5), Dua Aimen (6), and Muhammad Abdullah (6). Among the injured were students and staff, including teacher Saima (26) and another teacher, Sidra Rafiq (30), along with several children aged between five and eight years. A labourer named Sanaullah (28) was also among the injured. All victims were transported to Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital for medical treatment.
Authorities indicated that ongoing construction work on the upper part of the building had overloaded the roof, causing it to collapse. Following the tragedy, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz ordered a report on the incident.
DG Khan Commissioner Ashfaq Ahmad Chaudhry, Regional Police Officer Azhar Akram, and District Police Officer Sadiq Baloch visited the site to oversee rescue efforts. An emergency was declared at all government hospitals in the city to provide immediate and adequate care for the injured.
Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid announced the arrest of the school owner after a case was registered in connection with the collapse. He revealed that construction materials for a building under development had been stored on the school’s roof, contributing to the structural failure. The school reportedly enrolled 780 students, raising questions about how such a large number were accommodated in a building measuring only five to six marlas.
An investigation has also been launched into the officials responsible for issuing the building’s fitness certificate. The deputy commissioner assured that all those found accountable would face legal action.
