A rescue official said the roof of an upper floor collapsed onto the first-floor roof, which then gave way and fell on students inside classrooms.
Footage from the scene showed ambulances rushing to the site as rescue workers pulled injured and bloodied children from the rubble.
The administration of Lady Reading Hospital (LRH), which initially reported four deaths, later said 33 bodies had been brought to the hospital. Two more bodies were shifted to Naseerullah Khan Babar Memorial Hospital.
Six girls were among the victims, according to the LRH administration. It also reported that 20 children had been injured. The body of a female teacher was also brought to the hospital.
Peshawar Deputy Commissioner Sher Ahmed said all those trapped beneath the debris had been rescued.
Ahmed blamed what he described as substandard construction materials for the tragedy and called for a thorough investigation.
He urged the authorities to investigate the incident and take strict action against anyone found responsible to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
Capital City Police Officer (CCPO) Dr Mian Saeed said the school owner had been arrested. He added that the institution was being operated as an education trust.
Questions over construction quality
SSP Operations said between 110 and 115 children were inside the school when the roof collapsed.
He said the roof was weak and had been constructed using T-iron beams and planks. The structure reportedly failed to bear the weight, trapping students beneath the debris.
A police investigation officer also alleged that substandard materials had been used in the building. The school owner was arrested in connection with the alleged use of poor-quality construction materials.
Provincial Education Secretary Inayatullah Waseem directed the managing director of the Private Schools Regulatory Authority to submit a report on the incident by Friday. He also expressed condolences to the families of the children and teacher who died.
Officials express grief
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Governor Faisal Karim Kundi expressed sorrow over the incident and sought a report from the relevant authorities. He also directed officials to ensure the best possible medical treatment for the injured children.
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed deep grief over the loss of lives and prayed for those killed. He also prayed for the speedy recovery of the injured and directed authorities to provide them with all possible medical assistance.
The prime minister instructed officials to expedite rescue and relief operations at the site.
National Assembly Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq said the deaths of the children had left him deeply saddened. He expressed solidarity with the bereaved families and prayed for the recovery of those injured.
Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari also expressed grief and called for rescue efforts to be accelerated. He urged officials to recover anyone trapped beneath the debris and ensure effective treatment for the injured at LRH.
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor’s adviser on information and public relations, Samar Haroon Bilour, also expressed sorrow and directed authorities to provide the injured children with the best possible medical care.
