Published on 11:01 AM, January 04, 2016

4 dead in Dhaka, other areas after 6.7 quake

At least four persons died in Dhaka, Rajshahi, Lalmonirhat and Sirajganj after a 6.7 earthquake, epicentered in India’s Imphal, rocked Bangladesh in the early hours.

READ more: Bangladesh wakes up to tremors

US Geological Survey tagged the tremor at 6.8 in the beginning but later scaled it down to 6.7 – what is considered as a powerful earthquake.

Also READ: Strong quake kills 5 in northeast India

The tremor was felt throughout Bangladesh around 4:35am Indian local time (23:05 GMT Monday). In Dhaka, most people rushed down to the streets in panic.

One Saiful Hossain Rubel, 22, died in heart attack during the quake in Dhaka’s East Jurain, said Kazi Wazed Ali, officer-in-charge of Kadamtali Police Station.

At least 30 injured people took primary treatments at Dhaka Medical College Hospital, Mozammel Haque, in-charge of the hospital’s police camp, told The Daily Star.

In Rajshahi city, Khalilur Rahman, a staff of Rajshahi University, died while rushing out from his home, said Khalilur Rahman, OC of Motihar Police Station, told our local correspondent.

In Lalmonirhat’s Patgram, one Kadu Miah, 60, died in heart attack, our local correspondent reports quoting Rezaul Karim, officer-in-charge of Patgram Police Station.

In Sirajganj, a 45-year-old man died after he suffered chest pains during the earthquake, reports our Pabna correspondent.

Abul Kashem, 45, of Baora village in Belkuchi upazila, died at Belkuchi Upazila Health Complex at 5:30am, said Abul Kalam, a sub-inspector of Belkuchi Police Station.

Five others were also injured in the earthquake in the district, the police officer said.

Besides, two buildings located in Dhanbandi JC road area tiled due to the tremor, police said.

At least eight were injured in Sylhet city trying to scurry to safety, our Moulvibazar correspondent reports quoting Sohel Ahmed, OC of local Kotwali police. Several patients of Sylhet Osmani Medical College Hospital were also hurt in same fashion.

Two constables of Chittagong Metropolitan Police received minor injuries while they were jostling down the staircase of their quarters, our Chittagong correspondent reports quoting police.

The two constables Tazul Islam and Shahidul Islam both aged around 45 received minor injuries in their legs and were given primary treatment at Chittagong Medical College Hospital at around 5:45 am, said Nayek Jahangir Alam of CMCH police camp.