Three people were killed and 65 others injured in Bangladesh after a 5.7-magnitude earthquake struck near Dhaka on Friday, with tremors felt in Kolkata and other parts of West Bengal, and Northeast India.
The quake struck 13 km south-southwest of Narsingdi, about 50 km from Dhaka at 10:08 am, and at a depth of 10 km, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) said.
A building railing in Bongshal, Dhaka, collapsed during the earthquake, killing three people, The Dhaka Tribune reported.
The victims were walking along the road at the time of the incident. Locals said that the railing of the five-storey building suddenly fell on the victims during the tremor.
"We felt a strong jolt and buildings were shaking like trees," said Suman Rahman, a Dhaka resident. "Staircases were jammed as people rushed down. Everyone was terrified, children were crying."
According to Bangladesh's Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 10 injured were taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital following the earthquake. Another 10 injured were admitted to Gazipur's Tajuddin Medical College Hospital, Prothom Alo reported.
At Narsingdi District Hospital, 45 injured people were hospitalised of which three of them in critical condition were referred to Dhaka Medical College Hospital.
The earthquake also briefly disrupted the ongoing Test match between Bangladesh and Ireland in Dhaka. The game resumed after a few minutes and no damage was reported.
Muhammad Yunus, the chief advisor of Bangladesh's interim administration, urged people to remain calm as authorities assess the damage.
"Everyone is urged to remain alert and not pay attention to any kind of rumours or misinformation. Further guidance will be provided through hotlines and official channels if necessary. We remain committed to ensuring the safety of all citizens," he said in a statement.
In Kolkata, several people experienced tremors around 10:10 am for a few seconds, forcing them to rush out of their homes and buildings as a precautionary measure.
Several residents also reported experiencing tremors in cities such as Guwahati, Agartala and Shillong.
There was no immediate report of any loss of life or damage to property in India, officials said.
Source; India Today