At least 14 children were killed, and eight others were 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 occurred at a private tuition centre 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 nearby THQ Hospital Kahna. Unfortunately, 14 children of different age groups were brought to the hospital dead,” the minister said.

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He said five children were brought to the hospital with injuries, two of whom had since been discharged, while the remaining children were out of danger. The teacher was shifted to a specialised healthcare hospital after her condition was found to be critical.

Describing the incident as an eye-opener, Nazir said the rescue operation had been completed, 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 toll while addressing the media on the occasion. “Eight children and one teacher are hospitalised, who are injured. Apart from that, the death of 14 children is confirmed.”

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He said it was a single-storey building with a small room at the top with a roof of TR girders. The DIG added that some work was underway on the roof and the number of labourers exceeded its strength, which caused a girder to break, triggering the collapse atop what he said was a tuition centre.

“We have detained five people who were running the tuition centre and are interrogating them regarding in what capacity the centre was being run, why safety was not considered and other aspects.”

The DIG said the focus at this time was on the provision of medical aid to the injured, adding that an investigation was underway. He said the deceased children were locals of the area and assured the media of proceedings and action against those responsible.

Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister took notice of the incident and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured and expedite 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 site of the incident.

On the chief minister’s instructions, Adviser to the chief minister Zeeshan Malik arrived at THQ Hospital Kahna.

A statement from the Edhi spokesperson 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 scene and joined the rescue operation to recover those trapped.

According to a Rescue Punjab spokesperson, 12 of the children who died were between the ages of five and nine, while the remaining two girls were aged 11 and 16.

The spokesperson said the injured included a 30-year-old woman and four girls between the ages of seven and 11.

The spokesperson added that the collapsed roof had been constructed using T-iron girders and tiles.

Condolences pour in after Lahore roof collapse

President Asif Ali Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz and other political leaders on Tuesday expressed grief over the roof collapse at a tuition centre in Lahore’s Kahna area, offering condolences to the bereaved families and praying for the departed souls. 

According to a statement issued by the President’s Office, President Zardari expressed profound sorrow over the incident that claimed the lives of children in Lahore’s Kahna area.

The president prayed for the departed children, expressed condolences to their bereaved families and wished a swift and complete recovery for those injured in the incident.

“The loss of the precious lives of innocent children is deeply heartbreaking for the entire nation,” Zardari said, adding that effective safety measures were essential to prevent such tragedies in the future.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed grief over the loss of lives in the roof collapse at a tuition centre in Lahore’s Kahna area.

The prime minister expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of the children, prayed for the departed souls and extended his condolences to the bereaved families.

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He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured in the incident and directed authorities to ensure they received all possible medical treatment.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif expressed profound grief over the roof collapse at a tuition centre in Lahore’s Kahna area and offered her heartfelt condolences to the families of the children who lost their lives.

“As a mother, I can understand the pain of the parents. I cannot find words to express this grief,” Maryam said.

She said rescue and relief operations were launched immediately after authorities were informed of the incident, adding that all 20 children trapped under the rubble had been rescued.

“The loss of 14 precious lives is an extremely tragic and irreparable tragedy,” the chief minister said.

She vowed that those responsible would not be shown any leniency.

Maryam said she had ordered a complete, transparent and impartial investigation into the incident.

“Those found guilty of negligence or misconduct will be brought to justice in accordance with the law,” she added.

The chief minister also directed authorities to conduct a comprehensive review of the safety standards of buildings housing educational institutions and private establishments across the province.

“We will formulate a coordinated and effective strategy to prevent such tragic incidents in the future,” she said.

Separately, Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of 14 children in the roof collapse.

“In this hour of grief and hardship, we stand with the bereaved families,” the governor said.

Expressing sorrow over the loss of innocent lives, the governor said no effort should be spared in providing medical treatment to the injured children.

He also said that conducting educational activities in unsafe and dilapidated buildings was tantamount to putting children’s lives at risk.

“The persons responsible must be identified and brought to justice,” the governor said.

Moreover, Pakistan Peoples Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari expressed 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 sorrow over the roof collapse at the tuition centre 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’s team to immediately meet the affected families.

“The affected children and their families will be provided with every 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 provision of the best possible medical treatment to the injured.

Ahmed said negligence that endangered children’s lives 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 safety audit of all tuition centres and educational institutions.

“There can be no compromise on the lives and safety of children. Effective measures are essential to prevent such tragedies in the future,” she said.