PM Modi said India stood strong with the people of Bangladesh and was ready to extend support and assistance in the rescue operation.

A Bangladesh Air Force training aircraft crashed into a school campus in the capital, Dhaka, shortly after takeoff on Monday, killing at least 18 people including the pilot and injuring 164 others, the military said.

Panicked students, parents and teachers were seen running in confusion with a backdrop of screams, wails and raging orange flames.