A powerful 6.7-magnitude earthquake with epicentre in neighbouring India on Monday jolted Bangladesh, prompting people to rush out of their homes in panic resulting in death of five persons and injury to nearly 100 others.
Officials said five persons died apparently due to heart attack caused by panic after the pre-dawn earthquake. One death was reported each from Dhaka, northwestern Rajshahi, lalmonirhat, north Jamalpur and northwestern Panchagarh.
The US Geological Survey said the quake hit at 4.35 am (local time) 29 kilometres west-northwest of Imphal, India. The tremor was felt throughout Bangladesh. In Dhaka, most people rushed out to the streets in panic.
TV news channels reported that several dilapidated buildings in the old part of Dhaka developed cracks.
Fire service officials said a six-storey building was tilted and another developed cracks at old Dhaka’s Bangshal and Shankaribazar areas respectively. “Inmates are still inside, we may ask them to evacuate if it appear risky after our assessment,” a fire service spokesman said. The quake burst a gas pipeline at Ashulia on the outskirts of the capital sparking a flame, which was extinguished shortly.