In brief
In a tragic incident in Dhaka, Bangladesh, a fighter jet crashed into a school during lunch break on Monday, resulting in the deaths of at least 31 people, primarily children. The fighter jet, identified as a Chinese-made F-7 BGI, reportedly encountered a mechanical failure shortly after taking off from a nearby military base. Witnesses recounted the harrowing scene as the jet plunged into the Milestone School and College, engulfing the area in flames.
Students from third and fourth grades were settling down for lunch when chaos erupted. The sound of the crash was described by a teacher, Abu Sayed Mohammad Waliullah, as similar to an explosion. “My mind went blank. I couldn’t understand what had just happened,” he recalled. The impact sent students flying and ignited the aircraft's fuel, creating a large fireball that exacerbated the horror.Emergency responders have rushed to assist the victims, with 165 people wounded, many being treated for severe burns. Among the injured are students like Raiyan, 14, who was hospitalized after suffering injuries from the disaster. In the aftermath, national leaders declared a day of mourning as grief engulfed the community.Survivors and onlookers were left reeling, with students recalling distressing attempts to rescue their classmates. Mahathir Mohammed Abid, an 18-year-old student, described running into the inferno to save younger children and shared the traumatic experience of finding a deceased classmate.The school, which serves around 10,000 students in both English and Bengali, narrowly avoided more casualties as many students were outside enjoying their lunch break. Families desperate for news searched the wreckage, leaving heart-wrenching scenes as they grieved the loss of loved ones.Officials are investigating the cause of the crash, promising to provide further details. The relentless population density of Bangladesh, known to be one of the most populous countries, underlines the impact of this tragic event, which has left a significant scar on the community and the nation at large.As the country mourns, questions linger about safety and accountability in the wake of this devastating accident.
