Earthquake panic not evaporating from people’s psyche
Al Mamun Harun Ur Rashid :
The recent earthquake that shook the entire country especially densely populated Dhaka and its adjacent areas have left a panic of recurrence in the psyche of the people.
Residents of different corners of the capital expressed their fear that they cannot sleep well at night in fear that earthquake may jolt the city.
Many believe and experts said that foundation of most of the sprawling buildings is rickety in many cases. The city planners have already stated that around 21 lakh buildings in the capital are at risk.
Even Rajuk Chairman on Saturday said that they would go for tougher action against those building owners would not cooperate with them in the assessment of the building codes.
Meanwhile, Home Adviser Lt Gen (Retd) Md Jahangir Alam Chowdhury on Sunday called upon people to stay alert of the elementary safety measures during quakes.
“Some nations use mobile applications capable of issuing warnings about 10 seconds before a quake.
We are exploring early-warning mobile app to introduce in the country,” he said while talking to reporters after a meeting of the core committee on law-and-order at the ministry.
Highlighting the shortage of open spaces, he said, “There is a huge shortage of open spaces in urban areas. Even many buildings are being constructed by filling up water bodies.”
About the building codes, the Home Adviser said has called upon all concerned to strictly follow the building codes in construction.
Replying to a query of the preparedness of the Fire Service and Civil Defence, he said they have already demonstrated strong capabilities in the recent fired incidents.
“Major earthquake requires collective effort from everyone. We are working together to hone the skill and capacity of the fire service,” he said.
Amid the frequent earthquakes, Fire and Defence Service on Sunday urged people to stay calm and following eight essential safety measures during an earthquake.
The measures include staying calm and do not panic. If you’re on the ground floor, move outside as quickly as you can and head to an open space.
If you’re in a multi-storey building, follow the Drop-Cover-Hold method.
Drop to the ground, take cover under a sturdy table or beside a column or beam, and hold on. If you can, shield your head with a pillow, cushion, or anything similar.
Avoid using lifts during an earthquake and when the shaking stops, switch off electrical lines and gas connections right away.
Keep your distance from balconies, windows, bookshelves, almirahs, wooden furniture, or anything heavy that might fall. It helps to keep a torch, helmet, essential medicines, and a whistle within easy reach.
If you’re outdoors, stay in an open space far from trees, tall buildings, and electric poles.
If you’re inside a vehicle, stop in a safe area away from overbridges, flyovers, trees, and electric lines, and stay inside until the shaking ends.
After a major tremor, expect aftershocks. Steer clear of damaged buildings, bridges, and other structures, since additional shaking can trigger fresh collapses.
In the end, collective awareness and preparedness make a real difference in reducing harm.
Meanwhile, different higher educational institutions are shutting down one after another as earthquake anxiety sweeps across the country.
After Dhaka University announced a 15-day closure on Saturday, Sir Salimullah Medical College and Jagannath University followed on Sunday, halting all academic activities from 23 November.
Sir Salimullah Medical College in Old Dhaka has been declared closed until 30 November.
Principal Dr Mazharul Islam Shaheen said all classes and examinations have been suspended in the interest of student safety.
Although students were instructed to vacate the halls, some are still staying back.
The principal said academic activities will resume once the situation stabilises.
Jagannath University (JnU) has been closed for four days for the same reason.
An emergency meeting on Sunday decided that all classes and examinations would remain suspended until Thursday, 27 November.
Students have been ordered to leave the halls by 10 am on Monday. Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Rezaul Karim said a monitoring committee has been formed to assess building safety, with an expert report due by 4 December. Online classes will run from 30 November to 4 December.
Earlier, Dhaka University shut down for 15 days and directed students to leave the halls by 5 pm on Sunday.
Students from various halls, including female halls, have been packing up in haste, driven by fear after repeated tremors.
Across the capital, many residents say they can’t sleep at night, jolting awake at the slightest vibration or sound, worried that another quake might strike without warning.
The unease is growing, and campuses are emptying out as panic continues to ripple through the city.
Meanwhile, authorities have ordered a temporary 48-hour suspension of drilling at the country’s oil and gas wells due to earthquakes risks. Gas supply to consumers will remain normal during this period.
The directive was issued on Sunday by Muhammad Faozul Kabir Khan, the Adviser for Power, Energy, and Mineral resources.
Meanwhile, Dhaka did not feel any jolt on Sunday but neighbouring countries like Myanman, Thailand and Indonesia felt jolts.
A 5.3-magnitude quake struck off the coast of Myanmar on Saturday morning with tremors also felt in neighboring Thailand. The tremor was recorded at 10:39am, according to The US Geological Survey (USGS).
It said the epicenter was located 267 km west-southwest of Dawei, Myanmar, at a depth of 10 km.
Meanwhile, a 5.2-magnitude earthquake hits Indonesia occurred at a depth of 10 kilometres, according to Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency on Sunday.
Authorities have not reported any casualties or damage so far. Indonesia, located on the Pacific “Ring of Fire”, regularly experiences earthquakes and volcanic activity due to the movement of multiple tectonic plates.