Earthquake panic rush leads to one death in Dhaka, many injured

A young man has died in Dhaka during the panic rush to break out of homes after a powerful earthquake jolted Bangladesh early on Monday.

At least 29 others, injured in the panic rush, have been admitted to the Dhaka Medical College and Hospital (DMCH). 

Many of these injured were students of the Dhaka University, its police outpost inspector Mozammel Haque said.

The 6.7 on Richter scale earthquake, with its epicentre in India's northeastern state of Manipur, jolted Bangladesh at 5.05 am local time.

As buildings shook and swayed, thousands jumped out of their beds and desperately tried to get out of their homes.

Atiqur Rahman, 23, died in Dhaka's East Jurain as he tried to rush out of his house after the earthquake shook up Bangladesh.

"There seems to be no apparent injury on his body. It is suspected that he suffered a cardiac arrest in panic and died," Haque said.

He said Atiqur, was a student and used to make money by offering tuition but it was not clear which education institution he was in.

A DMCH employee said that of the 29 people injured and hospitalised there, many were students of the Dhaka University (DU).

A DU student of Sergeant Zahirul Hall was seriously, injured when he jumped from the roof of the five-storey building in panic.

Media reports indicated at least five students of Mohsin and Jasimuddin residential halls have been injured when they jumped from the second or third floor.

"Some were injured when they jumped from second or third floors in panic, some when they tried to rush down the stairs," said Inspector Mozzamel.

The epicentre of the 6.7 Richter scale earthquake was located 29 kms north by north-west of Manipur state capital Imphal, says the US Geological Survey.

India's northeast is a sensitive seismological zone, where at least 200 micro-tremors are reported every year.

It has suffered two of the earth's worst earthquakes in the state of Assam in 1897 and 1950, which killed thousands and even altered the course of the Brahmaputra River.

The last major earthquake in the area was epicentred at Sonai in Assam's Barak Valley district bordering Bangladesh's Sylhet region on Dec 31, 1984 .

Twenty nine people died in the Barak Valley in that earthquake.