DHAKA, Bangladesh

The death toll from a Bangladesh Air Force aircraft crash at a Dhaka school building has jumped to 31, with most of the dead being children, the military’s media wing said Tuesday.

As many as 165 people are suffering from burn injuries, and 20 bodies have been identified and returned to their families, said the Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR).

An air force training jet crashed Monday into a building of the Milestone School and College in the capital city’s Uttara neighborhood.

Two of the fatalities were the pilot of the Chinese-made FT-7 BGI fighter jet, Mohammad Towkir Islam Sagar, and Meherin Chowdhury, a teacher at Milestone College who reportedly saved 20 students before dying in the fire.

Hundreds of students clashed with law enforcement agencies in Dhaka, demanding the resignation of an education adviser and secretary.

They also demanded that the Air Force not conduct training in busy city areas.

After visiting the school grounds, law adviser Asif Nazrul told reporters that the government agreed on the demands and that the Air Force "will be given necessary instructions to take measures" not to fly training aircraft in populated areas.

The government has also suspended the higher secondary exam that was scheduled for July 24, he added.

The two-seater training jet encountered a “mechanical fault” shortly after taking off from Dhaka’s AK Khandaker airbase, according to ISPR.

The pilot attempted to steer the aircraft away from the densely populated area, but it crashed into the two-story building around noon, about 10 minutes after takeoff.

Footage showed massive flames and black smoke pouring from the site.

Rakibul Islam, the uncle of an eighth grader at the school, told Anadolu his nephew narrowly escaped harm. “The aircraft crashed just about 10 minutes before the school was out for the primary section. Students have gone into trauma. My nephew barely speaks after escaping the fire,” he said.​​​​​​​