The powerful earthquake that set off landslides and shook buildings in southwestern China killed at least 65 people and injured hundreds, state media said Tuesday. At least 16 other people are missing a day after the 6.8 magnitude earthquake struck a mountainous area in Luding county in Sichuan province, which sits on the edge of the Tibetan Plateau where tectonic plates meet and is hit regularly by quakes. The temblor shook buildings in the provincial capital of Chengdu, whose 21 million residents are already under a COVID-19 lockdown. Power was knocked out and buildings damaged in the historic town of Moxi in the Tibetan autonomous prefecture of Garze, where 37 people were killed. Tents were erected for more than 50,000 people being moved from homes made unsafe by the quake, the official Xinhua News Agency reported. State broadcaster CCTV showed rescue crews pulling a woman who appeared uninjured from a collapsed home in Moxi, where many of the buildings are constructed from a mix of wood and brick. Around 150 people were reported with varying degrees of injuries. Also read: Southwest China quake leaves 30 dead, triggers landslides Another 28 people were killed in neighboring Shimian county on the outskirts of the city of Ya'an. Another 248 people were reported as injured, mainly in Moxi, and another 12 people were reported missing. Three of the dead were workers at the Hailuogou Scenic Area, a glacier and forest nature reserve. Along with the deaths, authorities reported stones and soil falling from mountainsides, causing damage to homes and power interruptions, CCTV said. One landslide blocked a rural highway, leaving it strewn with rocks, the Ministry of Emergency Management said. Buildings shook in Chengdu, 200 kilometers (125 miles) from the epicenter. The earthquake and lockdown follow a heat wave and drought that led to water shortages and power cuts due to Sichuan’s reliance on hydropower. That comes on top of the latest major lockdown under China’s strict “zero-COVID” policy. Also read: Strong undersea quake causes panic in western Indonesia China’s deadliest earthquake in recent years was a 7.9 magnitude quake in 2008 that killed nearly 90,000 people in Sichuan. The temblor devastated towns, schools and rural communities outside Chengdu, leading to a years-long effort to rebuild with more resistant materials.

Commuters had a harrowing time on Wednesday morning as rush-hour traffic crawled on the Natore-Pabna highway clogged with a long tailback stretching over 20km. Police attributed the snarls on the high-speed corridor to the huge pressure of vehicles on the roads in the wake of the government easing the Covid-19 lockdown curbs. Also, repair work on the railway tracks passing through the area added to the woes of the motorists. Read: 25 km long tailback on Dhk-Ctg highway Mozaffar Hossain, officer-in-charge of the Banpara Highway police station, said that the railway authorities shut the Muladuli level crossing on Tuesday morning to carry out the repair work, forcing people to take a detour via the highway. Traffic on the highway, however, normalised around noon after the railway authorities opened the level crossing following the repair work, said the OC.

Police arrested 241 more people in Dhaka on Sunday for violating lockdown restrictions on the 17th day of the countrywide lockdown aimed at reducing the Covid-19 spread. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for being out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (Media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 37,450 in fines from 84 people. Read: Govt eases lockdown from Aug 11 with some guidelines to follow Also, the Traffic Division collected Tk 12,18,000  as penalties from 537 vehicles for violating lockdown restrictions. The number of vehicles and people on the city’s streets were comparatively higher on Sunday than the previous day. The movement of people and vehicles increased significantly on the 17th day of lockdown on as many people are coming out of their houses for various reasons. Read: Lockdown or no lockdown, life is the same in Dhaka Some people are going outside for vaccination as mass vaccination programme began in the country on Saturday while many more for other reasons as export-oriented factories were opened on August 1. It is only the shopping malls and eateries that remained closed and public transport stayed off roads as per lockdown rules.

Law enforcers literally scrambled to impose Covid-19 lockdown restrictions in Dhaka on Wednesday, as the capital witnessed some rush-hour traffic in the morning. Though public transport vehicles stayed off the capital roads, police and armed forces personnel were seen flagging down several private cars and people they thought had stepped out for frivolous reasons on the 13th day of the countrywide strict lockdown aimed at reducing the Covid-19 contagion risk. Read: Dhaka's traffic overload that never ends, not even in lock.down The police imposed fines on commuters who failed to produce proper documents in support of their "emergency travel", while those with valid papers were allowed to go. Many without supporting documents bridled at such restrictions, resulting in heated exchange of words with cops. In fact, RAB and Army personnel patrolling the streets of Dhaka, alongside the local police, have set up check-posts in different areas of the city. At some places, traffic congestion was seen between 8.30 am and 11.30 am. Traffic inspector Akther Hossain (Uttara Rajlaxmi), said, “The pressure of private vehicles is higher than that of Tuesday, but we are only allowing those with valid reasons to travel." "Cases are also being filed against violators. Mobile courts are also slapping fines on lockdown violators," he said. In fact, people’s movement has significantly risen as export-oriented industries have started operations, the inspector said. "Ambulances and people going out for taking Covid jabs are being allowed to travel," Akther said. Read: Lockdown breaches: Police arrest 343 in Dhaka The nationwide lockdown, first imposed for 14-days until August 5, has now been extended for another five days till August 10 amid a surge in the Delta variant of Covid-19 infections across the country. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque announced the decision of the government to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday. He said shops, factories and offices would be allowed to reopen from August 11, "while public transport can ply roads on a limited scale once the lockdown is over". Read: Lockdown in Dhaka: Surging infections, soaring chaos Covid-19 situation Amid the merciless onslaught of Covid-19 in Bangladesh, the country recorded 236 more deaths linked to the virus in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. According to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 15,776 more people came out positive with the virus during the period after the test of 55,284 samples. The fresh numbers pushed the country’s death tally to 21,397 on Tuesday, with the caseload mounting to 1,296,093. Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate fell to 28.58 % from Monday's 29.91%, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate. The country has been seeing over 14,300 cases and 230 deaths every day on an average for the last seven days.

Police arrested 354 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 12th day of the countrywide strict lockdown on Tuesday. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,77,000 in fines from 120 people. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka Besides, the Traffic Division collected Tk 1,12,3000 as penalties from 532 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. On the 12th day of lockdown, the streets of Dhaka flooded with vehicles bringing back its chaotic days. Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues Everything except public transports were plying city streets and people wandering around with little or no regard to the health guidelines. The government, meanwhile, has extended the current lockdown till August 10.

Amid the merciless onslaught of Covid-19 in Bangladesh, the country recorded 236 more deaths linked to the virus in 24 hours till Tuesday morning. According to a handout issued by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), 15,776 more people came out positive with the virus during the period after the test of 55,284 samples. The fresh numbers pushed the country’s death tally to 21,397 today with the caseload mounting to 1,296,093. Meanwhile, the daily test positivity rate fell to 28.58 % from Monday's 29.91%, while the World Health Organization (WHO) recommends a 5% or below rate. The country has been seeing over 14,300 cases and 230 deaths every day on average for the last seven days. The recovery rate, however, rose to 86.80%, and the case fatality remained unchanged at 1.65% compared to the same period, said the DGHS. Read: Covid in Bangladesh: Seniors far more likely to face the worst Amid the growing concerns about the highly infectious Delta variant, Dhaka division reported the highest 73 deaths, Chattogram 65, Khulna 32, Rajshahi 21, Sylhet, Rangpur and Mymensingh each 12 and Barishal eight deaths. Of today’s deceased, 140 were male and 95 were female. Hiring hospitals The government is going to rent hotels for providing treatment to Covid patients with mild complications as hospitals are under an unprecedented crisis with huge patients, Health Minister Zahid Maleque said on Tuesday. “Already 90 percent of the seats in hospitals have been packed. And 95% ICU beds are also occupied. We’re preparing a field hospital at Bangabandhu Medical University where we can immediately arrange 500-600 beds,” he said.

Dhaka, the capital of Bangladesh, is known for its traffic congestion. One will see it, no matter whether there is a shutdown or bad weather because its chaotic traffic -- still too mild a term -- is its identity.   On the 12th day of lockdown, UNB correspondents saw the streets of Dhaka flooded with vehicles bringing back its chaotic days. Everything except public transports were plying city streets and people wandering around with little or no regard to the health guidelines.   The government, meanwhile, has extended the current lockdown till August 10 amid a surge in the delta variant of Covid-19 across the country. Liberation War Affairs Minister AKM Mozammel Haque disclosed the decision of the government while talking to reporters after an inter-ministerial meeting on Tuesday. He said shops, factories and offices will be reopened from August 11 while public transport will be allowed to ply roads on a limited scale once the lockdown is over.  After a reality check at different parts of the capital, including Shabagh, Uttara, Mohakhali, Mirpur, Kalabagan, Biijoy Srani, Badda, Farmgate, Shyamoli, Karwan Bazar and Bangla Motor, the UNB correspondents saw the capital almost returning to normal with, with an increased number of vehicles and people on the streets. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka Usual traffic jams were also seen at most of these places during office hours from 8:30 am to 11 am.

Police arrested 303 people in Dhaka for violating lockdown restrictions on the 10th day of the 14-day countrywide strict lockdown on Sunday. The arrestees failed to show any valid reason for coming out on the streets, said DMP Additional Deputy Commissioner (media) Iftekharul Islam. Meanwhile, mobile courts collected Tk 1,16,100 as fines from 103 people. Besides, the Traffic Division collected Tk 4,45,500 as penalties from 183 vehicles for failing to comply with coronavirus lockdown restrictions. As mills and factories reopened on Sunday following the government’s announcement, public transports were seen on the roads till noon carrying workers and staff to the city. Read: People find 'easy excuses' to defy lockdown in Dhaka Those who had left the capital for Eid-ul-Azha and did not return due to the closure of factories were seen entering the city on foot amid the lockdown. Good number of buses and other vehicles were seen around Abdullahpur Tongi Bridge, Ashulia Bridge, Aminbazar Bridge, Gabtoli, Babubazar Bridge and Postogola Bridge. Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj also saw a huge crowd as people from south western districts were coming back to the capital to join their work. However, the streets in Dhaka saw a lower number of CNG autorickshaws and private vehicles. Visiting Gabtoli, Technical Intersection, Kamalapur, Shyamoli, Asadgate, New Market and Mirpur areas and Uttara, Abdullahpur, Banani, Mohakhali, Airport, Satrasta, Kakrail, Matshya Bhaban, the UNB correspondent found few private cars and CNG autorickshaws. Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues The number of three-wheeler rickshaws was more than the previous day. Members of the police, Rab and BGB were seen patrolling the city streets and checking vehicles at check posts in different parts of the capital. Re-imposed at 8 am on July 23, the current round of strict lockdown will be in force till August 5, unless extended further.

The government has allowed the movement of all public transport services till Sunday 12pm to help the export-oriented factory workers and officials to return to their workplaces. Bus, launch and train services will be operational in all routes across the country during this time. The development was confirmed by the Press Information Department Saturday amid a strict lockdown which will continue till August 5. Read: No decision yet on lockdown extension: Farhad Also, the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) "allowed all water transport to operate from Saturday evening to Sunday 12pm to transport factory workers." The decisions came a day after the government allowed export-oriented factories to restart production from tomorrow amid the ongoing lockdown. Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues Despite the suspension of public transports, thousands of people started returning to Dhaka through alternative means on the ninth day of the lockdown Saturday. A record surge in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown, suspending all outdoor activities unless there is an emergency.

River vessels will be allowed to operate from Saturday evening to Sunday 12 pm to carry factory workers, said the Bangladesh Inland Water Transport Authority (BIWTA) on Saturday. To carry the workers of RMG and export-oriented factories, the government has allowed the vessel movement, said a media release issued by the BIWTA in the evening. The BIWTA requested vessel owners, masters, drivers, staff and passengers to follow health guidelines during the period. Read: No decision yet on lockdown extension: Farhad Although public transport movement remained suspended, thousands of people started returning to Dhaka on the 9th day of the lockdown on Saturday following the government’s announcement that mills and factories will reopen on Sunday (Aug 1). Shimulia ferry terminal in Munshiganj saw a huge crowd as people from south western districts who were coming back to the capital to join their work. The vessel movement was suspended from July 23, 6 am as the government reimposed a countrywide ‘stricter’ lockdown till August 5, midnight as per a Cabinet Division’s order. Read: Covid kills 218 more in Bangladesh as its catastrophe continues Ahead of Eid-ul-Azha, the BIWTA, however, allowed vessels to carry passengers at half of their capacities on condition of maintaining health guidelines from July 14 midnight to 6am on July 23. A record rise in the number of Covid cases and fatalities in recent days prompted the government to enforce a nationwide stringent lockdown suspending all outdoor activities unless there is any emergency.