Pakistan came across another tragedy as the festivities of Eid- ul- Fitar were just about to begin. The PIA flight PK 8303 was a scheduled domestic flight from Allama Iqbal International Airport in Lahore to Jinnah International Airport in Karachi, Pakistan. On 22 May 2020, the Airbus A320 crashed in Model Colony neighborhood, a densely populated residential area of Karachi situated just some kilometers away from the airport. The whole country was devastated by the incident and is still grieving the irreparable loss.
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All the passengers aboard the ill-fated flight were visiting their families for Eid celebrations. The causalities are still being identified. According to reports , 99 people were in that plane and only two of them have managed to miraculously survive. Among those 99 passengers on board, 8 were members of the crew. None of them survived. People and political leaders from the country and all across the globe mourned the great loss of life.
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This isn't the first time a plane has crashed in Pakistan, in 2016, an airplane crashed on its way from Chitral to Islamabad. All passengers on board died in the crash including Junaid Jamshed and his wife. In 2010, an Airblue passenger flight crashed in Islamabad killing everyone on board.
Meanwhile, the psychologists are worried about the future implications of the plane crash. After a tragedy like this one, the survivors and the families of the deceased might experience Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD.)
A study was conducted after a plane crashed in Amsterdam, which stated that the survivors of the plane crash are at risk of developing PTSD. The symptoms of PTSD begin appearing nearly after three months to the tragedy. The victims start having flashbacks, start avoiding things that reminds them of the tragedy, start taking blame for the tragedy and all these symptoms disturb their daily functioning and productivity.
It is said,
The mind replays what the heart can't delete.
The implications of the PTSD won't only effect the survivors but it will have its impact on the bereaved families of the victims. The families are going through unspeakable trauma right now and the aftereffects might be even more dreadful. It is important to realize that PTSD if undiagnosed will have far adverse effects. PTSD is treatable, so it is better to get help.
In these times, as a nation we've to be empathetic towards the families of the victims. Do not circulate the images of dead bodies or of crashed airplane as it can trigger them. Stop hovering over the families of deceased and of survivors. Give them their personal space. Finally, let the governmental investigations be completed regarding the crash and do not start a blame game. It's the last thing we need right now.
