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The death toll in the Air Force (BAF) FT-7 fighter aircraft crash into a Milestone School building in Uttara soared to 31 while the number of injured was 165.
The Inter Services Public Relations Directorate disclosed this in a press release today.
“31 people have so far been killed in the plane crash till 12pm today and 165 of the injured are now undergoing treatment at 10 hospitals in the capital,” said the ISPR.
Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health and Family Welfare in a press briefing at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery this morning said that 25 children, a pilot and two teachers were among the deceased.
“So far 20 bodies of the victims were handed over to their families,” he said, urging people not to crowd hospitals unnecessarily. “We currently do not need much blood, only a few donors with negative blood groups are requested.” he added.
Health and Family Welfare Adviser Nurjahan Begum visited the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery this afternoon.
Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman, Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health and Family Welfare who accompanied the adviser told the media that 43 people are now undergoing treatment at the institute.
Two of the injured were shifted to bed as their health condition improved.
A team of expert physicians of Singapore are scheduled to land in Bangladesh tonight.
“They can change the treatment procedure if they feel,” he said.
According to the information of the focal point appointed for providing updated information of the casualties in the jet crash, 27 bodies have so far been identified.
Twelve of the victims whose bodies were handed over to families were identified as: Fatema Akhter, 9, daughter of Gani Sheikh of Bagerhat; Samiul Karim, 9 of Barishal; Rajoni Islam, 37 of Kushtia; Mehnaz Afrin Huraira, 9 of Tangail; Sharia Akhter, 13, daughter of Rafique Mollah of Dhaka; Nusrat Jahan Anika, 10, of Dhaka; Saad Salauddin, 9, son of Mukul Salauddin of Dhaka’s Mirpur; Saima Akhter, 9, daughter of Shah Alam, of Gazipur; AB Shamim, 14; Afnan, 14; Tanvir, 14 and Milestone School and College teacher Maherin Chowdhury, 46.
In addition, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam of the 35 squadron, who died in Monday’s plane crash, was laid to eternal rest at Sapura graveyard in Rajshahi this afternoon.
Earlier, his body was flown from Dhaka to Rajshahi after a funeral parade and namaz-e-janaza in Dhaka. The second namaz-e-janaza was held at Rajshahi Stadium, where a large number of people, including service personnel, administrative and police officials, relatives of Towkir, and political leaders were present.
The ISPR earlier confirmed that 171 people were also injured in the crash.
Two firefighters also suffered injuries while they were conducting rescue operations. But, they are now out of danger, fire service sources said.
The Fire Service and Civil Defence wrapped up the rescue operation at 8:30pm on Monday.
The aircraft crash took place due to mechanical fault (the details of which will be disclosed after investigation) after taking off from the Bangladesh Air Force Base AK Khandaker in Kurmitola at 01:06pm on Monday as part of a regular training, the ISPR said.
The FT-7 jet crashed into a building of Milestone School and College around 1:18pm on Monday, fire service sources said.
The ISPR said Flight Lieutenant Md Towkir Islam, the pilot of the aircraft, made every effort to steer it away from a densely populated area to a sparsely populated one in order to mitigate the impact of the crash and prevent major damage.
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, it added.
The government has postponed today’s (Tuesday’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.
Chief Adviser Professor Dr Muhammad Yunus expressed deep shock and sorrow at the casualties in the jet crash and assured of an investigation into the matter.
He also assured proper treatment of the injured.
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.
Meanwhile, the Chief Adviser’s press wing has denied the rumour of concealing information regarding the casualties in the fighter jet crash.
“The names and identities of all deceased are being verified and listed, it said, adding that the bodies that cannot be identified are being identified through DNA tests.”
