LAHORE: As many as 14 children lost their lives on Tuesday, while several others were injured, when the roof of a private tuition centre collapsed in Lahore’s Kahna area, officials said.

Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Imran Nazeer confirmed the deaths while speaking to Geo News. Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Operations Faisal Kamran also confirmed the casualties to Dawn.

In a statement after the search and rescue operation was completed, a Rescue 1122 spokesperson said a female teacher and eight children were taken to the Lahore General Hospital (LGH) with multiple injuries.

Of them, five children were in critical condition, he said.

Initially, some children were brought to the nearby Kahna Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital and were later taken to the LGH. According to an earlier list of the deceased provided by LGH, eight of them were aged between five and 16 years.

Meanwhile, the health minister said two minors were discharged after receiving treatment at the THQ Hospital, while the “rest of the four” were out of danger. It is unclear whether the four injured under treatment at the THQ hospital were besides those taken to the LGH.

Nazeer said “around 20 people” had been trapped under the debris, including the 14 deceased children, who were brought dead to the THQ hospital.

In a statement issued at 7pm, Lahore Police said rescue efforts had concluded.

The statement added that two individuals, including the house owner, have been taken into custody as part of the initial investigation.

It quoted the DIG as saying that evidence was being collected and strict action would be taken against those found guilty of negligence.

DIG Kamran said the contractor who constructed the house recently was among those held. He noted that a part of the house was under construction, and labourers were busy at work when the roof collapsed.

“The children are very young in age, and there were two rooms in use. The ceilings collapsed and trapped the children,” Rescue 1122 spokesperson Farooq Ahmed told Dawn News.

A statement by the Edhi rescue service, which also took part in the rescue operation, said that the roof “collapsed suddenly”. It said preliminary information indicated that the roof had been constructed using TR girders.

Lahore District Education Authority Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Tariq Mahmood said the building housed a private tuition centre and was run by a woman resident of the area.

The health authorities had declared an emergency at the LGH, directing the relevant senior administration officials, doctors, nurses and paramedical staff to attend to the injured children being brought there without any delay.

PM expresses condolences

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed his grief over the loss of lives in the incident.

In a statement carried by PTV News, he prayed for the deceased and extended his condolences to the bereaved families. He also wished the injured a speedy recovery and directed that they be provided with “every possible medical aid”.

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the police and district government authorities to determine the role of those individual(s) found responsible for the roof collapse, and consequently the deaths, for criminal proceedings.