By Sumayya
PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Elementary and Secondary Education Department has set up a three-member fact-finding committee to investigate a tragic roof collapse at a private school in Peshawar’s Dir Colony.
The accident at the Al-Khair Education System school martyred 33 children and a female teacher, while injuring several others. The department has ordered the committee to look into the incident and hand in its report by Thursday. Led by Javid Iqbal, the Managing Director of the KP Private Schools Regulatory Authority, along with Deputy Secretary Muhammad Farooq and another chosen member, the team will find out the causes of the collapse, check for structural faults or carelessness, and suggest ways to stop this from happening again.
The tragedy has brought widespread grief, with funeral prayers offered for the 33 martyred children and their female teacher. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi attended the collective funeral alongside PML-N leader Malik Tariq Awan, Red Crescent Chairman Farzand Wazir, Arbab Zarak Khan, police officers, and many local residents. Following the prayers, Governor Kundi visited the disaster site and promised that a transparent investigation would take place. He stated that authorities will first find out who gave the school its No Objection Certificate (NOC) and vowed that anyone found guilty of negligence will face strict legal action. The Governor also announced financial help of Rs1 million for the family of each martyred person and Rs200,000 for every injured child.
Meanwhile, federal and provincial leaders expressed deep sorrow over the heart-wrenching loss of the innocent children and their teacher. Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) Amir Muqam and KP Planning Advisory Council Member Usman Saifullah Khan extended their heartfelt condolences to the grieving parents. Both leaders prayed for the families to find strength and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical care for the survivors. Providing an update on the victims, Lady Reading Hospital spokesperson Muhammad Asim confirmed that the hospital received the bodies of the 33 martyred children and the female teacher, which have now been handed over to their families. He added that 20 injured children, including 12 girls, were brought in for emergency care. While most have been treated and sent home, three children with serious head injuries remain admitted under close medical supervision.
In a separate development in the region, Kohat District Police Officer (DPO) Rai Mazhar Iqbal met with the family of martyred DSP Asad Mahmood at his office. The DPO handed over financial assistance cheques to the family, paying rich tributes to the officer’s ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty. He reassured the family that the police department will always stand by them and take care of their daily needs. Following the meeting, DPO Kohat inspected a modern armored vehicle and watched live firing operational drills, emphasizing that upgrading such vehicles is vital to protect police personnel while they work to clear out crime and keep peace in sensitive areas.
