Two injured children discharged; teacher shifted to a specialised healthcare hospital in critical condition
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.
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 initial information, the collapsed roof had been constructed using TR girders, Rescue 1122 and the Edhi spokesperson said.
Rescue efforts were underway, while Edhi ambulances remained at the site to provide immediate medical assistance to the injured.
Rescue 1122 also confirmed the incident, saying that emergency vehicles and personnel responded promptly after receiving reports of the incident.
According to the rescue service, initial information from the caller suggested that eight to 10 children had been trapped beneath the debris after the roof gave way. Rescue workers were engaged in efforts to pull those trapped from the rubble.
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More to follow…
