KATHMANDU: At least 19 people were killed and 164 others injured after a Bangladesh Air Force fighter jet crashed into a school building in the capital, Dhaka, on Monday afternoon.
The F-7 fighter aircraft crashed into the premises of Milestone School and College in Uttara at 1:18 PM local time during a training flight, according to Bangladeshi media reports. The impact sparked a fire and caused panic among students and staff, many of whom were injured while trying to flee.
Prothom Alo, a leading Bangladeshi news outlet, reported that most of the injured were students.
Eyewitnesses described hearing a loud explosion as the plane suddenly slammed into the building, leading to scenes of chaos in and around the school.
Following the incident, Bangladesh’s interim government has declared a national day of mourning on Tuesday. The national flag will be flown at half-mast across all government, non-government, and autonomous institutions, both within the country and at diplomatic missions abroad.
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