Moulvibazar suffers much earthquake damage

Tuesday’s earthquake has caused much damage in Moulvibazar.

Cracks have developed on hundreds of buildings in the district town; many mud-built structures have collapsed.

In some places, land seemed to have split up.

An earthquake measured 5.5 on the Richter scale jolted the country around 3pm on Tuesday.

Its epicentre was at Tripura’s Ambassa, 170 kilometres northeast of Dhaka and it originated at a depth of 36 kilometres.

At least 15 persons in the district sustained injuries as walls collapsed on them while some got entangled with electric wires, officials said.

A fire was reported in a mobile phone tower's control in Moulvibazar town after the quake.

Power connections remained suspended for hours in more than one hundred villages as the quake caused a glitch on the Sreemangal grid.

Several cracks have developed on the district council office building.

Komolganj Municipality Mayor Jewel Ahmed said there were cracks in more than one hundred buildings, including the municipality office.

Cracks were also visible on the ground and water and sand could be seen oozing out.

Cracks have been spotted in a number of areas – Dholai River bank in Herengabazar, on a road in Kumrhakapon Village, in roads in Ranirbazar area and in the house of Freedom Fighter Joynal Abedin in Kandigaon Village.

Traders have suffered losses as well.

Glass and tiles stored in a shop at Bhanugachh Bazar broke into pieces during the tremor.

Around 20 businesses in that market have incurred losses, said Bhanugachh Poura Bazar Banik Samity’s General Secretary Md Sanwar Hossain.

Komolganj Upazila Executive Officer Mahmudul Huq told bdnews24.com that cracks have developed in hundreds of buildings across the Upazila.

“At some points they are as long as 40 feet. The residents of those buildings are in a state of panic,” he said.

Officials are trying to assess the losses, he said.

Cracks have developed at the building of the state-run orphanage at Sreemangal. Public Work Department officials have already visited the building, said Sreemangal Upazila Executive Officer Shahidul Huq.

“The building is fine right now but further damage cannot be ruled out if another earthquake occurs,” he said.

The building of Grand Sultan Tea Resort and Golf Plaza was mildly damaged.

Moulvibazar Palli Bidyut Samity DGM (technical) Abu Sayem said a jumper got disconnected at the Sreemangal Power Grid during the quake.

As a result, power connection was suspended in several areas. However, it resumed after the glitch was repaired.