Building plan missing from official record, probe finds

PESHAWAR – An inquiry into the deadly roof collapse at a private school in Dir Colony has found that the building was originally constructed for residential use and its approved building plan was missing from the Capital Metropolitan Government’s official record. The Eastern Zone of the Capital Metropolitan Government has submitted a detailed report on the October 15 incident to the KP government and the governor, highlighting concerns about the building’s construction and its use as a school.
According to the report, the rear portion of a classroom collapsed, killing dozens of children. The building was constructed in 2011 when the area fell under the jurisdiction of Town-IV Tehsil Municipal Administration, but officials could not trace its building plan in the current municipal record. The report said the ground-plus-one-storey structure was originally designed for residential purposes but was later used for educational activities. It noted that workers had built the ground-floor walls with cement bricks and supported the roof with iron girders and tiles. The first-floor walls lacked plaster, while its roof consisted of wooden planks covered with bricks.
The inquiry described the first-floor roof as temporary and unsuitable for school use. It concluded that the structure could not bear the combined weight of children and furniture, leading to the collapse.
The report further stated that the building did not appear visibly dangerous from the outside, which prevented the planning control inspector from identifying it as a potential hazard. It also pointed to the Private Schools Regulatory Authority’s responsibility for registering, supervising and monitoring private educational institutions.
The findings have raised questions about building approvals, construction standards and the monitoring of private schools. However, the final determination of responsibility and any negligence will depend on further official investigations and verification of the relevant records.