DERA GHAZI KHAN: At least four minor students died and 16 others, besides two school teachers and as many employees, were left injured, when the roof of a classroom caved in at a private school in the city, allegedly because of illegal construction work at an adjacent building.

As per Rescue 1122 and police, the roof of a classroom suddenly collapsed at the Little Scholar School in Block V of the city during the school hours.

As a result, four children -- Abdullah, Ghania Zahra, Mahsoon Fatima and Dua Fatima -- died, while 16 other students were injured. Besides, two teachers, Ms Saima and Ms Sidra Rafiq, along with two other individuals, identified as Sanaullah and Murtaza (said to school employees), were also injured in the incident.

Rescue 1122 teams, called to the scene, shifted the bodies and the injured to Dera Ghazi Khan Teaching Hospital for legal and medical procedures.

Incident allegedly occurred due to unauthorised construction work at adjacent building

Initial inquiries showed that illegal construction work was being carried out at an adjacent building, during which heavy construction material was dumped on the roof of a classroom, that caved in due to the load.

Sources say that the building owners -- Arman and Arsalan -- continued the construction work despite receiving a notice (No 418/B1/MC/DGK) dated May 12, 2026, from the Municipal Corporation under The Punjab Local Government Act 2025.

A case was registered on the complaint of Municipal Corporation Enforcement Inspector Irfan Haider by DGK city police against four persons -- Arman, Arsalan, school owner Akram and contractor Tufail -- under Section 154 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) and Section 160, Schedule 7, Part 11, Serial No. 19 of The Punjab Local Government Act 2025. The sections 34, 322, and 324 of the PPC were also included in the FIR.

According to the police, the charges include negligence and failure to implement safety measures, and an investigation has been initiated into the role of the school administration and other individuals responsible for the incident.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz took notice of the incident and sought an urgent report from the DGK commissioner, deputy commissioner and other concerned officials.

She expressed heartfelt sympathy and offered condolences to the families of the deceased children and directed authorities to ensure the best possible medical treatment for those injured in the incident, ordering the imposition of an emergency in the local hospitals.

Deputy Commissioner Muhammad Usman Khalid and DPO Muhammad Sadiq Baloch, jointly speaking to the media, stated that initial findings suggest construction material was dumped on the roof, which collapsed.

They further said the school building’s fitness certificate and last inspection will be reviewed, and strict legal action would be taken against those issuing the certificate, if any irregularity was found.

they said a committee would be formed to inspect other schools in the district, and a relief package would be provided to the families of the deceased children.

They also urged the suspects to surrender to the police, assuring them of a fair investigation based on merit.

According to rescue officials, the debris has been completely cleared and the search operation has concluded.

The district administration has also formed a special committee to assess the structural condition of the building.

Published in Dawn, May 8th, 2026