Grief, desperation echo around Burn Institute

Ambulances are arriving one after another, bringing in the injured. Families are rushing through the hospital floors, desperately searching for their children. Many parents are standing in the hallways, crying. The entire hospital is filled with panic, shouting, and sorrow. People are lining up at the blood bank to donate blood. Many have come from different parts of Dhaka, hoping to help save the injured schoolchildren.

These heart-wrenching scenes were witnessed on Monday afternoon (July 21) at the National Institute of Burn and Plastic Surgery in Dhaka.

Earlier that day, a training aircraft crashed near Milestone School in Uttara, and many of the injured were brought to the burn institute.

By 5PM, the hospital authorities reported that 70 injured students had been admitted. Two were confirmed dead. More ambulances kept arriving. The number of injured, according to unofficial estimate, was more than 170. However, fire fighters said a total of 116 persons got injuries.

From the ground floor to the sixth floor of the Burn Institute, families were looking for their loved ones. Some were able to find them, while others were still searching. Only one visitor was allowed inside per patient, so others waited outside, worried and helpless.

Mehrin, a fourth grader, was badly hurt. Her uncle Fayad Nion said, "I found my niece after searching for two-three hours." With tears in his eyes, he added, "Both her hands and face are badly burned."

Another student, Yousha, was also seriously injured. Her uncle Sharif said that three of his nieces and nephews go to Milestone School and all of them were hurt. Yousha's condition is the most serious, and the family is heartbroken.

MD Rubaiyat, a student of Milestone College, was not injured. He came to the hospital to help. He said the plane flew toward the school around 1:10 PM. The plane hit the ground near the Haider Ali building and burst into flames. The nearest classroom was only about 60 to 70 feet away.

Thousands of people came to donate blood. The blood bank on the 8th floor was packed. Volunteer groups outside the hospital called for more donors. Later, due to the huge crowd, the hospital started accepting mostly negative blood types, which are rarer.

Aminur Rahman, a former Dhaka University student, was seen organising blood donors. "It breaks anyone's heart to see the children in this condition," he said. "The state has failed to protect them. These injuries will leave deep scars in their lives." He said he left work to help in this emergency.

Many important people came to visit and check on the injured. Among them were Asif Nazrul, advisor to the Ministry of Law, Mustafa Sarwar Faruqi ,cultural affairs adviser, Syeda Rizwana Hasan, environment adviser, and Shafiqul Alam , press secretary to the Chief Adviser. Political leaders including Ruhul Kabir Rizvi (BNP), Shafiqur Rahman (Jamaat), and many student and volunteer groups also came to visit and offer help and support.

Speaking to journalists, Dr Saidur Rahman, health adviser to the Chief Adviser, said many lives are at risk, and it's too early to know the full impact.

He assured that all hospitals are ready with emergency supplies. A hotline (01949043697) has been opened for any help. He also said more blood might be needed from 8AM the next morning. He warned that burn injuries can lead to infections and asked everyone to be careful.

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