Earthquake: 3 die during evacuation

At least three people were killed in Tangail, Bogra and Pabna districts after an earthquake, followed by a shockwave, hit different parts of Bangladesh.

Panicked people rushed out of their residences and offices with the whole country shaking twice in the span of half an hour this afternoon, while several buildings in the capital, Dhaka, tilted in impact.

The jolt was felt shortly after a 7.9 magnitude earthquake struck an area between the capital Kathmandu and the city of Pokhara, the US Geological Survey said.

The magnitude of the earthquake in Bangladesh was around 4, Prof Jamilur Reza Chowdhury, former president of Earthquake Society, told The Daily Star.

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has expressed deep shock at the death of hundreds of people in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and other parts of the region in a powerful earthquake, reports the UNB.

Our New Delhi correspondent reported that massive tremors jolted Delhi, Lucknow, Kolkata and other parts of northern India. Tremors were also felt in Ranchi, Jaipur, Guwahati and parts of Uttar Pradesh.

Our correspondents and different TV channels report:

- Several buildings including FR Tower in Banani, Ershad Colony in Islambagh and Barisal Plaza near Bangabazar were tilted in Dhaka while many others in Natore and Gazipur

- Cracks developed in four buildings in old Dhaka, Tejgaon and Shewrapara of the capital, administrative building of Islamic University and general hospital in Kushtia, two others in Natore and a 10-storey building in Feni

- Over 200 people were injured across the country when they were coming out of buildings hurriedly

- Panicked woman died of stroke in Pabna while two others in Tangail and Bogra during the earthquake

PABNA

Rokeya Khanam Eti, 60, wife of Pabna municipality Awami League President Sohrab Hossain, also ran out of her home to go to the nearby road for safety. She suddenly fell and had cardiac arrest.

When taken to Pabna General Hospital, doctors declared her dead.

Meanwhile, over 40 students of Chatmohar pilot School, Atghoria Pilot School, Pabna Central Girls School fell sick out of panic during the earthquake, reports our local correspondent quoting the doctors concerned.

Most of them were taken to different local hospitals where they got primary treatment.

On the other hand, at least 10 to 15 workers of “Natal International,” an RMG factory in Ishwardi EPZ were injured while coming out of the factory during the earth quake. Most of them took primary treatment from Ishwardi Upazila Health Complex.

The workers of the factory claimed that a crack developed in the factory during the earthquake.

Talking to The Daily Star, Md Ruhul Amin, general manager of Ishwardi EPZ, denied the claim of developing a crack, saying some brick joints of the steel made factory were affected but no damage was done in the factory.

Factory activities suspended following the incident, he added.

TANGAIL

Parina Begum, 25, wife of one Sukur Uddin of Saidpur village in Mirzapur Upazila, had a heart attack after she rushed out of her home.

Doctors declared her “brought dead” when she was taken to Kumudini Hospital, reports our Tangail correspondent.

BOGRA

Morsheda Begum, 55, wife of Boyej Uddin died from wall collapsed at Bogra’s Dupchanchia during the earthquake, our Bogra correspondent reports quoting local police.

GAZIPUR

At least 50 garment workers were injured inside the 10-storey building of Al-Muslim Group at Ulail when the workers were rushing towards the exit during the tremor, reports our Savar correspondent.

The workers got panicked as they thought that their building was going to collapse like Rana Plaza, Rafique, a factory worker, told the correspondent.

Meanwhile, 20 RMG factories were closed following earthquake in the district, police say.

Besides, a six-storey Ridisha Garments Factory tilted at Nayanpur of Sreepur upazila. No casualty was reported in the incident.

On the other hand, at least two school buildings developed cracked at Kapasia and Sreepur upazila, while three girls of a school were admitted at a local hospital in an unconscious state following the tremor, said Sreepur Upazila Nirbahi Officer Sadekur Rahman.

MYMENSINGH

At least eight students of Kalikabari Government Primary School were injured in a stampede while coming out of their two-storey school building in Dhobaura upazila.

NARAYANGANJ

At least 20 apparel workers of two RMG factories were injured while coming out of their workplace in a hurry, our Narayanganj correspondent reports quoting Manjur Kader, officer- in-charge of Sadar Model Police Station in Narayanganj.

They were admitted to Sdara General Hospital for treatment, reports our Narayanganj correspondent.

Meanwhile, the district administration sealed a seven-storey building at Nayamati as it tilted due to the quake, police says.