'Flames all around': Eyewitness recalls chaos after Bangladeshi fighter jet crashes into school campus

'Flames all around': Eyewitness recalls chaos after Bangladeshi fighter jet crashes into school campus

A teacher from Milestone College in Uttara, still recovering at Lubana Hospital, recounted the horrifying moments after a Bangladeshi fighter aircraft crashed into the campus compound around 1:30 pm on Tuesday, triggering a massive fire.

The teacher said that the students had just begun lining up to leave as the final bell rang during the incident.

“It was exactly at the time of school dismissal. Students were waiting at the gates. Just then, we saw fire break out, completely unexpected, completely unprepared,” he said.

“There was no warning. Before we even understood what was happening, there were flames all around. Visibility dropped instantly. All I could see was fire, then smoke,” he added.

He recalled rushing to the washroom to soak a piece of cloth and use it as a makeshift mask.

“Both of my hands were burnt. I'm also experiencing breathing difficulties, and my face and ears are scorched. I told the children near me to do the same. Many of their shirts had already caught fire. I told them to stay low and cover their faces. Smoke inhalation is dangerous deadly even," he said.

Additionally, he recalled that he managed to help three students escape the fire. One of them, who sustained severe burns, was later shifted to the burn unit at Combined Military Hospital.

“I wrapped him in the scarf I was wearing and took him to the hospital. I had nothing else to hold him with. I was in pain myself, but I tried to stay stable and keep others calm.”