Death toll hits 32 in Milestone jet crash

Another child died at the burn institute, raising the death toll to 32 in Monday's fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College in the capital's Uttara.

A 10-year-old boy, Ayman, succumbed to his burn injuries at the Female High Dependency Unit (FHDU) of the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) here around 9:30am on Friday.

Residential Surgeon of the Institute, Shawon Bin Rahman, said that Ayman died with 45 per cent burn injuries.

Ayman was a fourth-grade student at the Milestone School and College.

With the latest death, 14 have so far died at the NIPBS, and one died at Dhaka Medical College Hospital (DMCH).

According to the updated information till 10am today, provided by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the death toll in the aircraft stood at 32, while 51 injured are now undergoing treatment at different hospitals in the capital. 

On Thursday, fifteen-year-old Mahia died around 4:30pm, while 12-year-old Mahatab passed away at 1:50pm at the burn institute.

So far, 41 people, seven with critical burn injuries, are now undergoing treatment at the burn institute.

The institute has been giving treatment to the burn-injured in consultation with the foreign medical teams.

The identities of two out of 32 deceased are yet to be confirmed.

The DNA Forensic Lab of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has been working to ascertain their identities through DNA testing.

On Thursday, CID confirmed the identities of five female children through testing 11 samples of DNA.

Earlier on Monday, an FT-7 fighter jet of the Bangladesh Air Force slammed into a two-storey building of the Milestone School and College at Uttara minutes after taking off at 1pm due to a mechanical fault.

The pilot of the plane, Flight Lieutenant Towkir Islam, also died in the plane crash.