Four Students Die, 20 Injured in DG Khan School Roof Collapse
A tragic incident has shaken Dera Ghazi Khan as the roof of a private school suddenly collapsed, resulting in the heartbreaking death of four young students and injuries to 20 others. The heartbreaking event occurred on Thursday morning at The Little Scholars School, located between V and W blocks of DG Khan.
According to Rescue 1122 officials, the roof caved in around 11:52 AM while classes were underway. The collapse happened because construction material was being stored on the school’s roof for ongoing building work on the upper floor, which put excessive weight on the structure. Rescue teams immediately rushed to the spot and carried out a difficult operation to save the trapped children and staff.
The deceased students have been identified as Ghania Zohra (8), Masoom Fatima (5), Dua Aimen (6), and Muhammad Abdullah (6). Among the injured were students aged between 5 to 8 years, along with two teachers and a labourer. All injured individuals were quickly shifted to Allama Iqbal Teaching Hospital for urgent medical care.
Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took immediate notice of the tragedy and demanded a detailed report. Senior officials including the Commissioner, Regional Police Officer, and District Police Officer also reached the site to supervise rescue and relief efforts. An emergency was declared in all government hospitals to provide the best possible treatment to the victims.
DG Khan Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid confirmed that the school owner has been arrested. He revealed that the school had 780 students enrolled but was operating in a small five-to-six marla building, raising serious questions about overcrowding and safety violations. An investigation has also been launched against officials who issued the building’s fitness certificate.
The Deputy Commissioner vowed that all those responsible for this negligence would be held accountable. This DG Khan school collapse has once again highlighted the poor safety standards in many private educational institutions across Punjab.
