A survivor of the deadly fire at Utumishi Girls Academy has emotionally shared her experience of escaping the dormitory inferno that claimed the lives of 16 students and left 79 others injured.

The student explained that the tragedy happened during the night after students had retired to their dormitories following a school routine similar to a Saturday programme because of a Muslim holiday.According to her account, students had gone to sleep late, around midnight, before screams warning of a fire woke everyone up.She said confusion spread quickly as flames had already blocked the main pathway used to exit the dormitory.

The student further alleged that the dormitory was locked from the inside, forcing many girls to retreat back into their cubicles as thick smoke filled the building.She described how several students struggled to breathe because of the smoke and panic.With no safe exit available, the students decided to escape through the windows.The survivor narrated that she jumped from the first floor in an attempt to save her life.After landing, she could no longer feel her legs and right arm before losing consciousness.

She later woke up in hospital, where doctors informed her that she had suffered fractures in both her arm and leg because of the impact from the jump.

The student expressed gratitude to the medical team treating her but admitted that she remains in severe physical pain and is deeply traumatised psychologically and emotionally.The incident has sparked nationwide concern, with emotional scenes witnessed as parents reunited with surviving students after the tragedy.