Two wounded children discharged; teacher moved to a specialized health hospital in critical condition
At least 14 children were killed and eight others injured after the roof of a house collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area on Tuesday, Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir confirmed.
Speaking to a private television channel, Nazir said a tragic incident took place at a private educational center in Lahore’s Kahna area when its roof collapsed, trapping 20 people under the rubble.
“Twenty people were pulled from the debris and shifted to the nearby THQ Hospital Kahna. Unfortunately, 14 children of various age groups were brought dead to the hospital,” the minister said.
He said five children were taken to hospital with injuries, two of whom had since been discharged, while the remaining children were out of danger. The teacher was moved to a specialist health hospital after her condition was found to be critical.
Describing the incident as an eye-opener, Nazir said the rescue operation was over and the government would take action against those whose negligence led to the tragedy.
He said Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz would not spare anyone responsible for the incident and had already ordered an inquiry into the roof collapse.
Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran also confirmed the figure while addressing the media on the occasion. “Eight children and a teacher are hospitalized who are injured. Apart from that, 14 children are confirmed dead.”
He said it was a one-story building with a small room at the top roofed by TR girders. DIG added that some work was underway on the roof and the number of workers exceeded its strength, causing a girder to snap, triggering the collapse on top of what he said was an education center.
“We have detained five people who ran the education center and are interrogating them about the capacity in which the center was run, why security and other aspects were not taken into account.”
The DIG said the focus at this time was on providing medical aid to the injured, adding that an investigation was underway. He said the deceased children were local to the area and assured the media of legal proceedings and action against those responsible.
Meanwhile, the Punjab Chief Minister took notice of the incident and directed the authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and speed up the rescue operation.
The chief minister also sought a report on the incident and ordered officials to determine responsibility for the roof collapse.
CM Maryam directed provincial ministers to immediately reach the spot of the incident.
On the instructions of the Chief Minister, Advisor to Chief Minister Zeeshan Malik arrived at THQ Hospital Kahna.
A statement from the Edhi spokesman said the roof of a room in a house near Qurban School on Ferozepur Road collapsed suddenly, burying several children under the debris.
Edhi ambulances and volunteers also reached the spot and participated in the rescue operation to save the captives.
Prime Minister Shehbaz, Bilawal expresses grief over the incident
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of life in the roof collapse of an educational center in Lahore’s Kahna area.
The Prime Minister expressed deep sorrow over the death of the children, prayed for the departed souls and condoled with the bereaved families.
He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident and directed the authorities to ensure that they receive all possible medical treatment.
Separately, Pakistan People’s Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari offered condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives in the roof collapse.
“I am deeply saddened by the tragic incident near Kachwana Road in Kahna,” Bilawal said, urging rescue volunteers, teachers and others involved in the operation to “perform their duties to the best of their ability”.
He also expressed solidarity with the grieving parents of the children who died in the incident.
Meanwhile, Punjab Child Protection and Welfare Bureau Chairperson Sarah Ahmed expressed deep grief over the roof collapse of the educational center in Kahna.
“The deaths and injuries of innocent children are deeply heartbreaking,” Ahmed said. “We stand with the affected and bereaved families in this hour of grief.”
She directed the Child Protection and Welfare Bureau team to meet the affected families immediately.
“The affected children and their families will be provided with all possible psychological, social and legal assistance,” she said.
She also expressed heartfelt condolences to the families of the children who died and called for the best possible medical treatment to be given to the injured.
Ahmed said negligence that threatened the lives of children could not be tolerated and called for a transparent investigation into the incident with strict legal action against those responsible.
She also called for an immediate security audit of all teaching centers and educational institutions.
“The lives and safety of children cannot be compromised. Effective measures are essential to prevent such tragedies in the future,” she said.
