Milestone tragedy: 5 critical among 40 admitted at burn institute; death toll rises to 33
Forty victims of the Milestone School plane crash remain admitted to the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka, with five currently in critical condition, said the hospital's director, Professor Dr Nasir Uddin, at a press briefing this afternoon (25 July).
Among the 40 patients, 10 are in the "severe category", while 25 have been classified as "intermediate", Dr Nasir said. Of the intermediate patients, 13 have been shifted to cabins.
"We hope to discharge 4-5 patients by tomorrow," he said, adding that of the six patients on ventilators in the ICU, two have started breathing on their own — a sign of progress.
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Dr Nasir also confirmed the deaths of two children earlier in the day, taking the death toll from the tragedy to 33.
"We lost two young patients today. Their bodies have been handed over to the families," he said.
"One of them, Ayman, will be buried in Shariatpur with support from the local civil surgeon. Meanwhile, Gazipur's civil surgeon has been contacted for the burial of the other child, Makin," he added.
On 21 July, a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into the Diabari campus of Milestone School and College in the capital's Uttara shortly after takeoff, sparking a massive fire.
The plane had taken off from BAF Base Bir Uttom AK Khandker at 1:06pm and crashed due to a technical failure, according to the ISPR.
The pilot had ejected from the aircraft but later died from injuries at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH).
The fighter jet had crashed into the primary school building moments before classes would have ended.
A high-level investigation committee of the Air Force was formed on that day immediately after the crash to find out the cause of the accident.
