Fourteen children were killed when the roof of a building collapsed over them at a private tuition centre in the Kahna suburb of Lahore.
The tragedy occurred late in the morning when the roof, reportedly in poor condition, suddenly gave way during routine repairs, crushing the space beneath.
Rescue 1122 responded to an emergency call at 16:45 local time and evacuated survivors within an hour, with most rescued being between seven and eleven years old. Five additional persons were reported injured.
Investigators have taken two people into custody as part of an initial inquiry into the building’s structural safety.
Pakistani officials, including Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Punjab chief minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif, issued statements expressing condolences and urging that those responsible face the full force of the law.
The incident underscores the urgent need for stricter safety inspections, especially in educational spaces that house vulnerable children.
