A tragic air crash took place on Monday in Dhaka, where a Bangladesh Air Force jet crashed into a school building, killing at least 27 people. The incident occurred at Milestone School and College, located in the Diabari neighborhood in northern Dhaka.
1 day Ago By Oskar Malec
According to officials, most of the victims were children, making this the most severe air crash in the country in recent years.
The crash caused injuries to 171 people, with many of them being students who were immediately taken to hospitals in Dhaka for treatment.
The crash happened at around 1:18 p.m. local time, during afternoon classes, when the jet, identified as a BAF F7, crashed into the two-story school campus after suffering a mechanical fault.
Military officials mentioned that the pilot tried hard to avoid crashing into crowded areas by steering the plane toward a less populated place.
However, the pilot could not survive the accident and was among those who died. A thorough investigation is now underway to determine the exact cause of the crash.
Most Victims Are Children, Hospitals Treat Dozens
Out of the 27 people who died, 25 were school children. Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, confirmed that 78 injured people are still receiving treatment in various hospitals in Dhaka.
After the crash, large crowds gathered at the accident site where emergency teams worked to control the fire and rescue the injured. The government declared a day of mourning and organized special prayers for the victims.
Muhammad Yunus, the country's interim leader, expressed deep sorrow over the tragic event, calling it a time of great sadness for the nation. He assured that hospitals and all concerned services would give top priority to treating the injured.
Witnesses Describe Chaos After Impact
Eyewitnesses shared emotional accounts of the disaster. Many parents were present at the school during the crash. Masud Tarik, a teacher at the school, said he heard a loud explosion while waiting at the gate to pick up his children and saw smoke and fire everywhere.
Students also spoke about their terrifying experience. A 16-year-old student, Rafiqa Taha, said she felt shocked watching the scenes unfold on television. Milestone College teaches students aged between 4 and 18, and many of them witnessed the horror firsthand.
Scenes from hospitals showed family members rushing to locate loved ones. One family member said his sister, a grade four student, was among the injured, and another described victims arriving at the hospital with severe burn injuries.
A young injured girl shared from her hospital bed that many classmates were badly burned.
Leaders from neighboring countries, including Pakistan and India, expressed their sympathies and support to Bangladesh following this heartbreaking tragedy.
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