14 children die as Pakistan learning centre roof collapses

At least 14 children have died and five others were injured after the roof of a tutoring center in Lahore, Pakistan, collapsed. The incident occurred in Basti Eid Gah, Kahna Nau, an area south of Pakistan's second-largest city in Punjab province.

Officials confirmed the death toll, with a spokesperson for the Edhi ambulance service stating that the collapsed roof claimed the lives of 14 children. A teacher was also among the injured. Rescuers and civilians were seen digging through the rubble of the partially collapsed building.

According to witnesses, workers were repairing tiles on the roof while the children were studying. A 45-year-old man, Zaheer, whose niece was among the victims, told AFP that "the roof was in poor shape." He added, "They put a lot of weight on the roof and that's why this has happened."

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A roof collapse in Basti Eid Gah, Kahna Nau, has claimed the lives of 14 children, while five others were injured

The children who died ranged in age from approximately four to 12 years old. Authorities have initiated an investigation into the incident. Provincial police reported that two individuals have been taken into custody. The Punjab education minister stated that the tutoring center was located in a private house belonging to a teacher who educated children from a disadvantaged neighborhood.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his grief and directed authorities to provide all possible medical assistance to the injured. Roof and building collapses are a recurring issue in Pakistan, often attributed to poor safety standards and substandard construction materials in the country of over 240 million people.

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The roof was in poor shape. They put a lot of weight on the roof and that's why this has happened.