At least 14 schoolchildren lost their lives in Lahore, Pakistan, when a tutoring center’s roof collapsed, as confirmed by emergency officials. Additionally, eight children sustained injuries and are currently receiving medical care at a nearby hospital, according to senior police official Faisal Kamran. Both the owner of the tutoring center and another individual have been detained in connection with the incident.
Rescuers are diligently searching through the debris following reports suggesting that more children might be trapped underneath, Mr. Kamran stated. The tutoring center was situated in an old building, and the collapse of the roof on an unfinished second floor was attributed to substandard construction.
President Asif Ali Zardari of Pakistan expressed sorrow over the collapse at the evening school building. He extended condolences to the victims’ families, wished a speedy recovery for the injured, and emphasized the necessity for effective safety measures to avert similar tragedies.
Building collapses are frequent in Pakistan due to lax enforcement of construction standards. Many structures are constructed using inferior materials, and safety protocols are often disregarded to cut costs.
Following the roof collapse, ambulances, and rescue personnel swiftly arrived at the scene. Residents also joined the efforts, using shovels and hands to clear debris in an attempt to reach trapped children.
As the bodies of the deceased children were being handed over to their families, heartbreaking 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 on Tuesday.
Residents expressed a mix of grief and anger, demanding severe repercussions for the tutoring center’s owner, whom they blamed for conducting classes in an unsafe, deteriorating building. Mourners gathered outside the victims’ homes to offer condolences.
Lahore, the capital of Punjab province in Pakistan, sees many parents enrolling their children in private tutoring centers during the afternoon and evening hours.
