At least 14 children died after the roof of a tuition centre collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area on Tuesday evening, with police taking three people, including the building’s owner, into custody.

The roof of a room housing the tuition centre, set up inside a house in a narrow street in Kahna, caved in suddenly around 4:45 p.m., trapping more than 30 children who were present for their studies.

Three siblings from a single family were among those killed, while a fourth sibling and three of their cousins were injured.

Medical sources said the children killed in the collapse were aged between around seven and 14.

MS Kahna Tehsil Headquarters Hospital (THQ) confirmed the deaths and said a total of 19 children were brought to the hospital, of whom five remained under treatment and were said to be in improving condition.

Residents said they immediately alerted rescue services after the collapse and joined police and rescue teams in clearing the debris, from which children and a female teacher were pulled out and shifted to hospital.

Rescue workers said several children’s breathing had been obstructed, and they cleared mud from their mouths and noses before rushing them to the hospital.

Rescue 1122 spokesperson Muhammad Farooq said rescue teams made every effort to save the children, though most were in critical condition by the time they were reached.

More than 20 children were pulled from the rubble before the rescue operation was largely completed.

The room’s roof had been built using T-iron girders, which collapsed suddenly, Rescue 1122 said.

Kahna THQ said six injured persons were in stable condition, including eight-year-old Abiha, ten-year-old Fariya, 11-year-old Murtaza, eight-year-old Ayan, seven-year-old Rabia and 30-year-old Humaida Reehan.

Hospital officials said the injured had been provided immediate medical assistance and were out of danger.

Officials said the building also housed a school that operated in the mornings, with children present for tuition classes at the time of the collapse.

Three held

Police said construction work had been underway on the upper floor of the tuition centre while children were present on the ground floor.

Three people were taken into custody after the incident: the house owner, identified as Rehan; his brother, Muhammad Faizan; and a mason, Umair.

Eyewitnesses said the roof of the affected portion was dilapidated.

DIG Operations Faisal Kamran reached the site, reviewed the rescue operation and was briefed by officials on relief activities.

Injured children were moved to the Kahna THQ, where the DIG later visited to inquire after them and met with affected families, offering condolences and assurances of full support.

He said evidence was being collected to determine the cause of the collapse and that impartial legal action would be taken against those responsible.

President, PM, CM and others react

President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the incident, saying the loss of innocent children’s lives was extremely tragic for the entire nation and that effective safety measures were essential to prevent such incidents in future.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif also expressed deep sorrow over the loss of lives, conveying condolences to the bereaved families.

He prayed for the recovery of the injured and directed authorities to provide them with every possible medical assistance.

Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz said that as a mother, she could understand the families’ pain, which words could not describe, and conveyed heartfelt condolences and sympathy to the bereaved.

She said rescue operations began immediately after the incident was reported, with 20 children pulled to safety, and termed the deaths of 14 children an irreparable tragedy.

The chief minister said those responsible would not be shown any leniency and would be brought to justice.

She ordered a complete, transparent and impartial investigation, with strict legal action against anyone found guilty of negligence, and directed a comprehensive review of safety standards at educational institutions across the province to prevent future tragedies.

Provincial Minister Khawaja Imran Nazir said multiple children were affected when the tuition centre roof collapsed, with around 20 children moved to emergency care.

He said 14 children died in the incident, including nine boys and five girls, while six children sustained minor injuries and continued to receive treatment.

Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan said conducting educational activities in dilapidated buildings was tantamount to playing with lives, and called for those responsible to be identified and brought to justice. He said no effort should be spared in providing medical treatment to the injured children.

Punjab Law Minister Rana Iqbal also conveyed condolences to the families of the deceased and directed authorities to provide the injured with prompt, high-quality medical care.

He ordered a transparent and impartial investigation into the incident. He directed strict legal action against anyone found guilty of negligence, saying those who endanger the lives of children would not be spared and would be held accountable under the law.