India rushes top medical experts to Bangladesh after deadly jet crash at a Dhaka school leaves 29 dead and dozens critically injured, mostly children….reports Asian Lite News
In a gesture of regional solidarity and swift humanitarian response, India has deployed a specialised medical team to Bangladesh to assist in the treatment of survivors injured in the devastating fighter jet crash at Milestone School and College in Dhaka earlier this week.
Late Wednesday night, Randhir Jaiswal, the Official Spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), confirmed the arrival of the Indian team in Dhaka. The three-member unit, comprising two senior burn specialists and a nursing assistant from New Delhi’s premier institutions — Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital — landed in the Bangladeshi capital to support local doctors treating the burn victims.
“The team will begin work from tomorrow at the designated hospital,” Jaiswal posted on X. “Their visit follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s assurance to extend all possible assistance and support to Bangladesh in the wake of the tragedy.”
The move comes just days after a Bangladesh Air Force F-7 BGI fighter aircraft crashed during a training sortie, ploughing into the premises of Milestone School and College in Dhaka’s Diabari area on Monday afternoon. The crash has so far claimed at least 29 lives, with 69 others injured — many of them critically. Among the injured are schoolchildren, teachers, firefighters, police officers, military personnel, and local residents, including domestic workers and electricians.
Officials fear the death toll could rise further, as 25 of the injured remain in critical condition with severe burn injuries.
Speaking to ANI, an official from the Indian High Commission in Dhaka confirmed that the Indian medical experts were drawn from the top burn treatment facilities in the country. “Doctors have come from the top burn-specialised hospitals in India – Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital and Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi,” the official said, adding that India would remain on standby for additional medical evacuation or support if requested by Dhaka.
The deployment of the medical team follows a condolence message by Prime Minister Modi on July 21, in which he expressed sorrow over the tragedy and offered all possible support to Bangladesh.
India’s offer of help has been formally communicated through the Indian High Commission in Dhaka, which wrote to the Bangladeshi authorities seeking information on any specific medical assistance required, including the possibility of transporting patients to India for advanced care. “The Indian High Commission will extend all necessary facilitation,” a statement read.
Eyewitness accounts from the crash site paint a horrifying picture. Students at Milestone School, still shaken, described scenes of carnage and destruction. Adol Hossain Seaim, a Class 11 student, said, “We saw hands and feet melted away. Many of the bodies were charred beyond recognition.” Others questioned why a training flight was allowed to operate over such a densely populated urban area.
Sanjida Akter Smriti, another Class 11 student, said, “The plane was just five feet above our building. If it had fallen here, thousands of students could have died. Why are old planes from 1966 still being used for training?”
These concerns have sparked anger across Dhaka, with many citizens calling for a thorough probe into air force protocols and aircraft maintenance. In response, the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) clarified that the aircraft involved was a fully operational fighter jet on a routine training mission.
The pilot, Flight Lieutenant Mohammad Towkir Islam Sagar of the Bangladesh Air Force, was also killed in the crash. His death adds to the growing questions around air force safety standards and the risks of flying over urban populations.
Bangladesh is observing a day of national mourning in honour of those lost. Black flags and memorial vigils have been reported in schools and public offices across Dhaka.
Chief Adviser to the interim government, Professor Muhammad Yunus, offered his condolences to the victims’ families and institutions affected. Calling the incident “irreparable,” Yunus said, “The loss suffered by the Air Force, students, teachers, and families is profound. I pray for the speedy recovery of the injured and urge authorities to address the crisis with utmost urgency.”
He further assured that a thorough investigation would be launched to determine the exact cause of the crash and to implement safety measures to avoid future tragedies.
The F-7 BGI aircraft, believed to have been acquired from China in the 1960s, was part of Bangladesh’s ageing fleet of training jets. Aviation experts in both countries have voiced concern over the continued use of these models, especially over congested areas.
As Bangladesh continues to grapple with the aftermath of the crash, India’s prompt assistance signals a renewed phase of cooperative diplomacy between the two neighbours. The tragedy, though heart-wrenching, has brought both nations together in shared grief and solidarity.
Whether it leads to a broader regional health cooperation framework or remains a one-off humanitarian gesture, India’s medical aid to Bangladesh reinforces the bonds of friendship and trust in times of distress.
