Tragic Roof Collapse in Lahore
Fourteen children lost their lives after the roof of a building near Lahore collapsed, officials confirmed. The incident took place at a private tuition centre located in the Kahna suburb of the Pakistani city.
Among those affected were young children under the age of 10 who were removed from the site. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the cause of the collapse, and two individuals have been detained as part of the preliminary inquiry.
Rescue Efforts and Injuries
Farooq Ahmed, spokesperson for the emergency service Rescue 1122, informed the BBC that they received a call regarding the incident at 16:45 local time (12:45 BST). He stated that the rescue operation was completed within one hour, with most of the recovered individuals being between seven and 11 years old.
In addition to the fatalities, five people are reported to have sustained injuries.
Eyewitness Accounts
A man identifying himself as Zaheer, 45, who said his niece was among the victims, told AFP that the roof had been "in poor shape". He explained that tiles on the roof were undergoing repairs while the children were attending their studies.
"Suddenly the roof collapsed on top of quite a few children,"
"They put a lot of weight on the roof and that's why this has happened."
Another local resident conveyed to the Associated Press the community's grief, saying,
"We don't know whose home to visit first to offer condolences for the loss of their children."
Official Responses
Pakistan's Prime Minister expressed his condolences following the tragedy in a statement reported by AFP. The message, attributed to his office, included Shehbaz Sharif's prayers for the speedy recovery of the injured and his directive for authorities to provide all possible medical assistance.
The Chief Minister of Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif, described the event as a "heartbreaking tragedy." In a message shared on X in English, she stated,
"The loss of 14 innocent lives is an immeasurable sorrow, and my heart goes out to the grieving families."
"Every individual found accountable will face the full force of the law,"
she added.
