At least 34 schoolchildren and one teacher were killed on Thursday morning when the roof of a school collapsed during morning classes in Peshawar, police and rescue officials said, prompting widespread grief across the country. Rescue workers spent hours pulling children from the rubble of the privately run education centre, which is located in a residential area, while panicked parents and relatives gathered outside the building seeking news of their loved ones. Most of the students killed were under 13. At least 45 people suffered major and minor injuries, said Arif Khattak, regional director of the Rescue Department. A higher-floor roof collapsed onto students in classrooms below, crumpling two storeys of the building, a rescue official said. The administration of Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), which initially reported four deaths, later said that 33 bodies were brought to the hospital. Two bodies were shifted to Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital in the provincial capital, it added. Among the victims were also 12 girls, according to the LRH administration. The body of a female teacher was also brought to the hospital following the incident, the LRH administration said. Peshawar deputy commissioner said that all people trapped beneath the debris have been rescued. The incident took place at 8:48am local time (0348 GMT) and the rescue operation lasted for four to five hours, Khattak said. ‘Make an example of them’ Resident Sher Ahmed said he blamed “substandard construction materials” for the tragedy, and called for a probe. “With profound grief and sorrow, I urge the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation and take strict action against anyone found responsible so that such tragedies can be prevented in the future,” he said. Distraught relatives accused the school of ignoring concerns about the building’s condition and demanded accountability. “Make an example of them, a lesson for all, so that no one dares open a school just to make money without providing facilities,” said Mohammad Zaman, who lost two nephews in the collapse. Talking to the media, school owner Khan Muhammad said several days of rainfall were the reason behind the incident, adding that the school was built around one and a half years ago. Muhammad said he had visited the affected classroom himself in the morning before the incident occurred. The owner said he called all teachers and began evacuating children after the incident. He added that around 30 children were present in the affected classroom. According to the school owner, 350 students were enrolled at the school. ‘Substandard materials’ in building SSP Operations said that the school roof collapsed while between 110 and 115 children were present inside the building, causing deaths after the structure failed to bear their weight. “The roof is weak, and no one is being allowed inside,” he said, while providing details about the construction and circumstances of the collapse. According to the SSP Operations, T-iron beams and planks had been used in the roof’s construction. He said the structure could not withstand the weight and collapsed, trapping children beneath the debris. A police investigation officer said that substandard materials had been used in the school building, adding that the school owner had been arrested over the alleged use of substandard construction materials. Condolences pour in KP Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed sorrow over the incident and sought a report from the relevant authorities. He also directed authorities to provide the best possible medical facilities to injured children. Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of lives in the collapse of a school roof in Peshawar. The prime minister offered prayers for the elevation of the ranks of those killed in the tragic incident, including children. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured and directed the authorities to ensure that they received all possible medical assistance. The prime minister further instructed the authorities to expedite relief and rescue operations at the site of the school roof collapse. Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar said that the collapse of the school roof has deeply pained the entire nation. National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the loss of innocent children had left him deeply saddened. Speaker Sadiq expressed solidarity with the bereaved families, and prayed for the speedy recovery of those injured. Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed grief over the school roof collapse and called on the administration to accelerate rescue efforts. He urged officials to immediately retrieve those trapped beneath the debris and ensure effective arrangements for treating the injured brought to LRH. KP governor’s adviser on Information and Public Relations Samar Haroon Bilour expressed grief over the roof collapse, directing the provision of the best possible medical facilities to the injured children.