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The death toll from Milestone School and College jet crash has risen to 32, while a number of burn victims are still in critical condition, reveals an analysis of data from the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) and the Ministry of Health.
According to the ISPR, 31 people died as of 12.00 pm on Tuesday, while a nine-year old victim passed away at the National Burn and Plastic Surgery Institute at around 12:15 am on Wednesday. The youngster was identified as Nafi who received burns to 95 per cent of his body.
Briefing journalists on Wednesday afternoon, Director of National Institute of Burn & Plastic Surgery (NIBPS) Prof Dr Md Nasir Uddin said eight of the 44 burn victims admitted to the Institute are in critical condition. Besides, 13 are in severe condition and 23 are in intermediate condition, he said. He also said they had a meeting with doctors from Singapore who arrived on Tuesday night.
Dr Chong See Jack, senior consultant at Singapore General Hospital, is heading the Singaporean medical team.
Describing burn management as a dynamic process, Prof Nasir Uddin said separate treatment regimens are being followed for children. Each patient will be re-assessed every 12 hours and decisions will be taken accordingly, he noted.
Meanwhile, the ISPR said there has been a plethora of rumours across social media about the death toll. The army has urged people not to spread such rumours without verification. "Any media outlet can investigate this matter, interview anyone, including the military, or visit any relevant location," said the ISPR. "We are ready to provide maximum assistance and will fully cooperate with you as needed," it added.
During a visit to the Milestone campus in the city's Uttara on Wednesday noon, it was found that the main gate of the institution was locked. A good number of police were deployed inside and outside the campus. A banner with a condolence message was displayed at the entrance.
Locals said even on Wednesday morning, there was no such restriction on entry to the college. However restrictions were imposed as people from different walks of life started crowding there.
A ninth-grader of Milestone School Mohammadpur campus came to see the affected building. "I am deeply saddened by the loss of my young brothers and sisters here," he said.
The Milestone School authority on Tuesday formed a committee to prepare a list of casualties, according to a notification of the school. Principal Mohammad Ziaul Alam will serve as the chairman of the committee. Other members are Vice Principal (Administration) Masud Alam, Headmistress Khadija Akhter, Coordinator Lutfunnesa Lopa, guardian of a student Moniruzzaman Mollah, two HSC second-year students Maruf Bin Ziaur Rahman and Tasnim Bhuiyan Pratik.
The committee has been instructed to complete their work and submit a report within the next three working days. The school authority also requested guardians to contact the control room of the Diabari campus if they need any information about those missing in the plane crash.
Also, the government on Wednesday urged the family members of those missing to provide DNA samples at Criminal Investigation Department (CID) Malibagh office in the capital.
Special Assistant to the Chief Adviser on Health and Family Welfare Dr. Md. Sayedur Rahman in an official handout made the appeal. Family members whose children or relatives are not in the list of injured and deceased are requested to go to the capital's CID Malibagh office and provide samples for DNA matching, according to the handout.
He said that the identifications of six bodies kept in the Combined Military Hospital morgue have not yet been confirmed. Samples have already been collected from the bodies for DNA analysis (profiling) under the supervision of experts from the health ministry.
Meanwhile, the revised schedule for the ongoing HSC exams has been released. The exams originally scheduled for July 22 and 24 will now be held on August 17 and 19 respectively, a statement from the Chief Adviser's press wing said.
The government on Wednesday published the identities of the victims who were killed and injured in the BAF aircraft crash at Uttara in Dhaka.
The bodies of the 21 victims among 29 deceased were handed over to their respective families, six bodies were kept at mortuaries and one remained unidentified, CA's press wing shared the data of the Health Ministry in a Facebook post on Wednesday.
Besides, 69 injured victims are now undergoing treatment at different hospitals.
Those included five teachers, 41 students, one school staff, one firefighter, one policeman, 14 army personnel, one assistant, one electrician and four others.
It also shared the hospital-wise list of casualties till 1:00 pm on Wednesday.
n National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery: 44 injured, 11 dead
n Kuwait Bangladesh Friendship Govt. Hospital: one injured, no deaths
n Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka: 15 dead, 21 injured
n Lubana General Hospital and Cardiac Centre, Uttara:, one dead, 13 injured
n Uttara Adhunik Hospital: one injured, no deaths
n Dhaka Medical College and Hospital: 3 injured, one dead
n Shaheed Mansur Ali Medical College: One injured, no deaths
n United Hospital: two injured, one dead
n Human Aid Research Lab and Hospital: one injured
Six unidentified bodies remain at the morgue of the Combined Military Hospital (CMH), Dhaka. The Ministry of Health is now seeking assistance from relatives to identify these victims.
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