A 5.5 magnitude earthquake shook central Bangladesh Friday, killing at least eight people and leaving over 300 injured, authorities and local media said. Buildings in capital Dhaka swayed in the temblor, sending panicked residents into the streets. The quake also could be felt in Kolkata and parts of West Bengal in India and also in Northeast India. The quake hit at 10.38 AM, with the epicentre at Ghorashal in Narsingdi district in Bangladesh, about 25 KM from Dhaka. USGS said it had a depth of 10km. Dhaka-based DBC Television said two children were among the dead.
The fatalities occurred mostly from collapsed roofs and walls. A building’s railings fell and killed three people on a Dhaka street. As per news reports, 252 people, mostly garment workers, were hospitalised in Gazipur district, outside Dhaka. The workers tried to rush out of factories when the quake hit, setting off stampedes that left many hurt.

Source: AP. TOI