Milestone plane crash: Death toll rises to 31 as nine more succumb to injuries
So far, the deaths of 25 children and two adults, including the pilot and a teacher of Milestone, have been officially confirmed.
The death toll from yesterday's (21 July) deadly plane crash at Milestone College's Diabari campus has risen to 31, mostly children, with four more injured passing away.
Five children, who sustained severe burns in the fire following the crash, had died at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) in the early hours today (22 July), Dr Shawon Bin Rahman, resident surgeon at the NIBPS emergency department, confirmed to The Business Standard this morning.
Later in the day, posted on Facebook at 1:59pm, the latest update from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Directorate showed that four more injured have succumbed to their injuries.
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Details regarding their identities were not shared in the post. But it showed that so far, 10 deaths have been recorded at NIBPS, 16 at Combined Military Hospital (CMH), two at Lubana General Hospital and Cardiac Centre, Uttara, and one death each at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH), Uttara Adhunik Hospital, and United Hospital.
So far, the deaths of 25 Milestone students and two adults, including the pilot and a teacher of the institute, have been officially confirmed. Over 170 others were injured, many with critical burns.
Fifteen-year-old Arixon, with 100% flame burns, died at 2:20am, followed by 13-year-old Aryan (85% burns) at 2:30am.
Thirteen-year-old Nazia, who had 90% burns, also succumbed to her injuries early today. Sayem Yusuf, 14, who had suffered 95% burns, died while undergoing treatment in the ICU.
Additionally, nine-year-old Bappy Sarkar, who had 35% flame burns along with an inhalation injury and was on life support in the ICU, died at 5am.
Briefing reporters at NIBPS this morning, Prof Dr Md Sayedur Rahman, special assistant to the chief adviser for the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, said that NIBPS has a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with a medical facility in Singapore, and assistance will be sought if necessary.
He urged people not to crowd blood donation centres at the moment, saying, "There's no need for a rush. Blood will be collected today. We have sufficient preparations in place.
"A few donors with negative blood groups will be needed, but more than 100 donors will not be required."
So far, he said, the bodies of 20 victims have been handed over to families - 10 from NIBPS, eight from the CMH, and one each from DMCH and United Hospital.
The remains of six victims have not yet been identified, and only body parts were recovered in those cases, Sayedur said.
Currently, 78 people are admitted to and being treated in four hospitals across the city. Among them, five patients are in the ICU at NIBPS, including three who are on ventilators.
In addition, two firefighters suffered injuries while they were conducting rescue operations. But, they are now out of danger, fire service sources said.
According to the update from the ISPR at 1:30am today (22 July), the 20 identified victims whose bodies have been handed over to their families are Fatema Akter, 9, daughter of Goni Sheikh from Bagerhat; Samiul Karim, 9, from Barishal; Rojoni Islam, 37, from Kushtia; Mehnaz Afrin Huraira, 9 from Tangail; Sharia Akter, 13, daughter of Rafique Molla from Dhaka; Nusrat Jahan Anika, 10, from Dhaka; Saad Salauddin, 9, son of Mukul Salauddin from Mirpur, Dhaka; and Saima Akter, 9, daughter of Shah Alam from Gazipur.
Yesterday (21 July), a Bangladesh Air Force (BAF) F-7 BGI fighter jet crashed into the Diabari campus of Milestone 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.
So far, deaths of 25 children and two adults, including the pilot and a teacher of Milestone, have been officially confirmed.
However, students who witnessed the incident and helped first responders have claimed that the death toll is much higher than what has been officially announced.
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 Monday immediately after the crash to find out the cause of the accident.
The government has postponed today's HSC and equivalent examinations and all the examinations under the National University following the crash.
An emergency hotline number 01949-043697 has been launched at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery following the jet crash.
The government has asked all public and private hospitals to provide free treatment to those who were injured in the crash
Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum gave necessary directives to all public and private hospitals in this regard, said a press release.
