HARIPUR: A fire broke out on Monday at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School in Sirikot, Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, leading to the safe evacuation of around 1,400 students and others present.
The fire posed a significant risk to the lives of hundreds of students and staff as it engulfed the school building, damaging furniture, records, and ceilings, according to Rescue 1122 spokesperson Faraz Jalal. Fire trucks from TMA and Ghazi areas, along with local residents, worked to extinguish the blaze. However, the mountainous terrain made access difficult for fire brigade vehicles.
Residents played a crucial role in evacuating the female students. The rescue department confirmed that there were no casualties, though about half of the school building, which was partly made of wood, was badly damaged.
Chief Secretary Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nadeem Aslam Chaudhry attributed the fire to a short circuit and stated that an investigation is ongoing. He assured that the school would be made functional soon.
KP Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur noted the prompt action by rescue officials in evacuating the students and announced that the education department and district administration would report on the incident. He also mentioned that all educational institutions would be reviewed to prevent similar occurrences in the future and that the provincial government would compensate for the damage.
