Death toll in Uttara plane crash revised to 34 amid confusion

Confusion over the death toll following the devastating plane crash near Milestone School and College in Uttara has finally been resolved, with the Ministry of Health confirming that 34 people lost their lives in the incident.

Initial reports from the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) were inconsistent. A list released on 24 July stated 15 fatalities, but the updated version issued on 27 July reflected 14. This discrepancy was attributed to forensic analysis and DNA testing conducted on the remains.

CID investigators confirmed that although 15 body bags were received after the crash, not all contained distinct bodies. Some held partial remains or dismembered body parts, requiring advanced forensic examination to determine the exact number of individuals.

On 21 July, CMH received the remains: Turag police identified 11 complete bodies, 2 partial remains, and 5 dismembered parts. Nine bodies were immediately identified and handed over to families—eight on 21 July and one on 22 July.

The CID forensic team later found that the body bag containing five dismembered parts belonged to two victims—students Lamia Akter Sonia and Afsana Akter Priya. These were mistakenly thought to represent five individuals.

Following thorough analysis, CMH confirmed that the remaining number of distinct bodies was 5, bringing the verified toll to 14 at CMH. Combined with others previously documented, the total confirmed fatalities now stand at 34.

The Ministry of Health has also reported that 112 people were affected by the crash, including 78 who were hospitalised with injuries.

As the nation mourns, forensic science has played a crucial role in bringing clarity to grieving families and helping authorities present accurate reports.