Lahore tragedy: 14 children killed after tutoring centre roof collapses, negligence probe underway

Fourteen children were killed after the roof of a private tutoring centre collapsed in Pakistan’s eastern city of Lahore on Tuesday, rescue officials said, prompting authorities to consider a possible negligence investigation.

Punjab’s emergency service said rescue teams recovered the bodies of the children and a 30-year-old female teacher from the rubble of the after-school facility.

The victims were aged between 5 and 16 years, with most of the children under the age of 9.

Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari said initial findings indicated that the tutoring centre was unregistered and operating inside a privately owned residential building with a weakened and unsafe roof.

Such private tutoring centres are widespread across Pakistan, where students often attend extra classes outside regular school hours.

“If negligence, carelessness or any violation of the law is established, those responsible will face strict legal action,” Bokhari said in a statement.

She added that Punjab authorities had been instructed to inspect unsafe buildings ahead of the monsoon season and introduce stricter regulations for unregistered coaching centres and private educational facilities.

Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari expressed sorrow over the deaths and called for stronger safety measures to prevent similar tragedies in the future.