Desk Report,
Plane crashes into school, 22 killed
Some students were in class, some were preparing to return home after the holidays. Parents were waiting outside. Like any other day, there was a familiar bustle on Monday afternoon in the premises of Milestone School and College in Uttara in the capital. Suddenly, a loud noise was heard after 1 pm. In an instant, everything was thrown into chaos with fire, smoke and screams.
Plane crashes into school, 22 killed
It was later learned that the Air Force’s FT-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into a two-story building on the school premises. The Chinese-made fighter jet, used for training purposes, crashed into the school building in Uttara due to a mechanical fault. The Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said that the plane crashed into the school building shortly after taking off from the AK Khandaker Air Force Base in Kurmitola in the capital at 1:06 pm. The Fire Service and Civil Defense received this news at 1:18 pm.
The school building caught fire immediately after the plane crashed. Then the screams of the burnt children, the cries of the parents and relatives who were frantically searching for their children became heavy. As of 1 am yesterday, at least 22 people have been reported to have died in this tragic incident. At least 171 people have been injured.
Witnesses to the incident said that the plane crashed during school holidays. Some were coaching after class. There was a children’s play swing next to the building where the plane crashed. Some were on the swing at the time. Therefore, most of the casualties were children. A total of 16 reporters and photojournalists, including this reporter from Prothom Alo, were at the scene and at various hospitals, and they spoke to those concerned. There were also five people from the multimedia department.
Rescue work began immediately after the plane crashed. Volunteers including the fire service, armed forces, police, BGB, RAB, Ansar, Scouts rushed to the scene. Many died before being rescued and taken to the hospital. Flight Lieutenant Md. Tauqir Islam, who had exited the plane before it crashed, also died.
After the rescue of the victims, they were taken by ambulance to various hospitals in Uttara, including Dhaka Medical College Hospital and the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery. At least eight hospitals have been reported to have taken the victims. Later, relatives of the victims rushed from one hospital to another. The hospitals were overwhelmed by the cries and cries of relatives.
Doctors said that most of the injured were burned. The condition of many of them is critical. In addition, the bodies of many of the deceased were burned to such an extent that their faces are not even recognizable. In this situation, the government has informed that the bodies of those who cannot be identified immediately will be identified through DNA tests and later handed over to the families.
Professor Muhammad Yunus, Chief Advisor to the Interim Government, expressed deep shock and sorrow over the casualties. The government has declared a one-day state mourning today, Tuesday. Various political parties and organizations have expressed their condolences over the plane crash.
How the fighter jet crashed
The ISPR has given an explanation for the horrific plane crash in Uttara. They say that the FT-7 BGI fighter jet was flying as part of a routine training flight. Then it encountered a mechanical fault.
The ISPR said that to deal with the accident and avoid major damage, the pilot, Flight Lieutenant Md. Tauqir Islam, tried his best to take the plane from a densely populated area to a sparsely populated area. But unfortunately, the plane crashed in an unexpected accident in a two-story building of Milestone School and College in Diyabari, Dhaka.
Eyewitnesses and fire service sources said that the plane first crashed into the grounds of the educational institution. Later, it moved forward by making a hole of about 30 yards. Later, it hit the ground floor of a two-story building. The front part of the plane entered a classroom on the ground floor.
Several students said that after the crash, various parts of the plane broke apart. At that time, a fire broke out. Most of those who were leaving the building through the stairs were killed.
