Panic at Narsingdi epicentre: Stampede, fainting, panic attacks send 62 to hospital

A roof collapse during the earthquake in Narsingdi has left three people, including two children, seriously injured. The incident took place at a house adjacent to a women’s madrasah in the Gabtali area of Chinishpur Union, Sadar upazila this morning, Friday.

Another 59 people arrived at Narsingdi sadar hospital and the district hospital with minor injuries, or after fainting or suffering panic attacks, physicians said.

The three critically injured are Md Delwar, 37, a resident of the house, and his two children Tasfia, 17, and Omar, 9. After providing initial treatment at Narsingdi sadar hospital, all three were referred to Dhaka in critical condition.

Locals said that during the earthquake, construction materials were flung from the roof of a nearby multi-storey building onto the one-storey house.

Part of its roof collapsed. Delwar and his children were attempting to flee the house at the time and were struck on the head by falling debris and broken roof fragments.

Neighbours rescued the injured and took them to the Narsingdi sadar hospital. The on-duty emergency physician provided first aid and advised that they be taken to Dhaka Medical College Hospital. Their relatives set off for Dhaka by ambulance shortly afterwards.

Farida Gulshanara Kabir, the residential medical officer (RMO) of Narsingdi sadar hospital, said the condition of the father and son was critical, and they were sent to Dhaka for advanced treatment.

She added that another 46 patients had come to the hospital with various injuries sustained while running to safety during the tremor. Some had fainted, while others were suffering from panic attacks.

ANM Mizanur Rahman, superintendent of the 100-bed Narsingdi district hospital, said, “We have treated 13 people in the emergency department, most of whom were injured while rushing about during the earthquake. None of them is in critical condition.”

The earthquake struck at around 10:38 am today. Tremors were felt across various parts of the country. The epicentre was in Madhabdi, Narsingdi.

According to the Bangladesh Meteorological Department, the magnitude was 5.7. However, the US Geological Survey (USGS) has said the quake measured 5.5 on the Richter scale.

As the ground began to shake, multi-storey buildings and other structures swayed. The brief but sharp tremor triggered widespread panic. People rushed out of their homes and ran towards open spaces and roads.

Many residents of Narsingdi described their experiences on Facebook. Several posted photos of cracked walls and floors. Others shared images of furniture strewn across their homes.

Salauddin Ansari, director of the six-storey Markazus Sunnah Tahfizul Qur’an Madrasah on eidgah road in Ghorashal pourashava, Palash, said, “Four or five places in our building have developed cracks. The students are terrified.”

Punam Saha, a resident of Madhya Kandapara in Narsingdi town, said, “I’ve never seen a building sway like this before. We ran downstairs with the whole family.”