At least 14 schoolchildren lost their lives when the roof of a tutoring center collapsed in Lahore, Pakistan, as confirmed by emergency officials. Additionally, eight children sustained injuries in the incident and are currently undergoing treatment at a nearby hospital, according to senior police official Faisal Kamran, who also mentioned the arrest of the tutoring center owner and another individual.
Rescuers are actively searching through the debris, following reports that more children might be trapped underneath. The tutoring center was situated in an old building, with the roof of an unfinished second floor collapsing due to poor construction quality, as stated by Mr. Kamran.
Expressing sorrow over the collapse, Pakistan’s President Asif Ali Zardari extended condolences to the victims’ families and prayed for the swift recovery of the injured. He emphasized the necessity for effective safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Building collapses are a common occurrence in Pakistan due to lax enforcement of construction standards and the use of substandard materials to cut costs. Eyewitnesses reported the immediate response of ambulances and rescue teams to the collapse site, with residents also assisting in the search efforts using tools to clear the rubble.
As the bodies of the children were being returned to their families, emotional scenes unfolded outside hospitals and in the neighborhood where the private tutoring center was located on the outskirts of Lahore. Most victims resided nearby, and funeral prayers were expected to take place later in the day.
Residents expressed a mix of grief and anger, demanding severe punishment for the tutoring center owner for conducting classes in what they deemed an unsafe building. Mourners gathered outside the victims’ homes to offer their condolences, reflecting a community in mourning and seeking solace in unity.
Lahore, the capital of Punjab province in Pakistan, sees many parents sending their children to private tutoring centers during the afternoon and evening hours.