Four children killed as classroom roof collapses in DG Khan school

DERA GHAZI KHAN: At least four students of a private school were killed and more than 20 others injured after the roof of a classroom collapsed in Punjab’s Dera Ghazi Khan on Thursday.

According to Rescue 1122 District Emergency Officer Engineer Ahmad Kamal, the incident occurred at around 11:52am at The Little Scholars School located between V and W blocks of the city.

Rescue officials said the bodies of four children were recovered from the rubble. The deceased were identified as Ghania Zohra, 8, Masoom Fatima, 5, Dua Aimen, 6, and Muhammad Abdullah, 6.

More than 20 people, including students, teachers and labourers, sustained injuries in the collapse and were shifted to Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital for treatment.

The injured included teachers Saima and Sidra Rafiq along with several children, while two labourers working at the site were also hurt.

Engineer Ahmad Kamal said construction work was underway on the upper portion of the building and construction material had been placed on the roof, which allegedly overburdened the structure and caused it to cave in.

Following the incident, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the tragedy and sought a report from authorities.

Ashfaq Ahmad Chaudhry, Azhar Akram and Sadiq Baloch visited the site to oversee rescue operations and review the situation.

Authorities declared an emergency at government hospitals across the city to ensure immediate medical treatment for the injured children.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid said the school owner had been arrested after a case was registered over the incident.

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He revealed that around 780 students were enrolled at the school despite the institution operating in a five-to-six-marla building.

The deputy commissioner added that an investigation had also been launched against officials who issued the building’s fitness certificate.

“All those responsible will be brought to justice,” he said.