Most victims in Milestone crash are students under 15
DGHS data further reveals that 27 of the injured are under the age of 12
Children under the age of 15 account for the majority of casualties in the devastating explosion and fire triggered by the crash of a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet at the Diabari campus of Milestone School and College.
According to the latest data released by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) at 1pm today (24 July), 55 people injured in the incident are currently undergoing treatment in hospitals across Dhaka. Of them, 37 are children under 15. Among the 31 confirmed dead, 21 were also under 15.
DGHS data further reveals that 27 of the injured are under the age of 12. Among the adult victims receiving treatment, two are aged 37 and one is 46. Of the deceased, 10 were under 12.
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The list of the injured includes five teacher - Ashraful Islam, Sumaiya Larin, Anwar Hossain, Nishi, and Mahfuza Khatun. In total, 16 individuals aged over 18 are still receiving medical care.
Dr Tanveer Ahmed, associate professor of Plastic Surgery at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery, told The Business Standard that a 20% burn is considered risky, and 40% is classified as a major burn in cases involving open fire or scalding.
"But in a large-scale incident like the one at Milestone, there is no difference between 1% and 40% burns. The airways have been affected. So every burn is life-threatening. In this case, everyone's face was burned, chemicals were involved, and the fire erupted in a confined space. That puts every patient at high risk," he added.
Currently, 42 patients are admitted at the burn institute, including 14-year-old Ayan and 32-year-old Masuma, both of whom are in the ICU.
Eighteen-year-old Saimon, who did not suffer any burn injuries but was psychologically impacted by the incident, has been referred to the National Institute of Mental Health, where he has been diagnosed with panic disorder.
Eleven more patients are being treated at the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), and one has been admitted to Shaheed Monsur Ali Medical College.
Eight of the injured are currently in ICU — Ayan (14) and Masuma (32) at the Burn Institute; and Atik (22), Anwar Hossain (37), Akib (12), Billal Hossain (15), and Jannatul Mawa (10) at CMH — six of whom are under the age of 15.
