Bangkok earthquake: Indian community members share firsthand experiences of tremors

India Today

Indian residents in Bangkok share their experiences of a powerful earthquake that struck the city.

Transcript

00:00I'm also joined by some of the Indian origin residents in Bangkok and remember there's been a massive Indian diaspora in Bangkok

00:06Pushkardhar Dubey is joining me, Dr. Raj is joining me

00:10If you can hear my voice, in English, Hindi, whichever language you are comfortable with

00:15Did you feel this earthquake, tremor, for how long, what happened, where were you?

00:22At that time, we were in a government complex

00:28We were in a government complex for a long time, for about a minute

00:35There were a lot of problems and a lot of people were worried

00:40We were in a place where there is a lot of crowd

00:43The public there was very worried

00:46Suddenly, everyone started running, everyone started shouting

00:51Do you stay there, have you come on vacation, on holidays, with your family?

00:56No, no, we stay here

00:58You stay here?

00:59Yes, madam, we stay in Thailand

01:01Have you ever felt this level of tremor in Thailand, in Bangkok?

01:06No, I have never felt this level, I have felt it lightly a few times

01:11But it just came and went, it came and went in a jiffy

01:15But this one was very big and there were a lot of losses

01:20How long? A few seconds, a few minutes?

01:23It came at about 1.20 pm from the time here

01:29And it must have been in a minute's time, it was here in a minute's time

01:34It was only 50 seconds or 40 seconds

01:38Has there been any impact around you?

01:41As we can see, the visuals of buildings falling are also coming from Bangkok

01:46Yes, some buildings have fallen next to us

01:50Nearby, where we were, within 10 km, there is a place called Chatuchak

01:56The building has fallen there

01:58There are also a lot of people there, some roads have also been damaged

02:04How is the environment now?

02:07It is a little normal, but the public is a little scared

02:11Most of the people have left their homes and are sitting in parks

02:17People have come out, so what will you do now?

02:21I think you are also outside, if you can show us the Bangkok area

02:27Are there more people? Are the markets open or closed?

02:30Is it possible?

02:32The market is open, let me show you

02:35The market is open, there is not much crowd

02:38Although people are walking in the parking lots

02:43The market place is near our house

02:47Which area is this, Pushkarji?

02:50This is in front of Don Mueang Airport

02:58You were outside when the earthquake struck, how was your reaction?

03:08At that time, we were scared, we thought we were sick

03:13Then suddenly I felt that the earthquake was coming

03:19People started running, it was a chaotic atmosphere

03:24It is evening now, there is a tourist destination

03:28Are the areas closed or will they be opened?

03:33Some roads have been closed, which are connected to Bangkok

03:37There is a lot of traffic

03:41All the roads connected to Bangkok are closed, it is on high alert

03:46There is a possibility of more people coming here

03:49My last question, are you able to see the police around you?

03:54Do you have any message from the authorities?

03:56Or are you able to pick up on social media?

03:59No, there is a government message

04:01Everyone is alerted to stay safe

04:04There is no need to go anywhere, stay in the field

04:07There is a possibility of more people coming, this is a government alert

04:10Pushkarji, take care of yourself

04:13Is everyone in your family safe?

04:15Is everyone safe in Bangkok?

04:17Yes, everyone is safe

04:19All the people I know are safe

04:24Do a lot of Indians stay there?

04:27One is for vacation and the other is to stay there

04:30No, a lot of Indians stay here to stay

04:34A lot of good people stay here

04:37One last question, PM Modi has also given a statement

04:40That he is praying that everything is fine

04:43Do you think there is a need from India?

04:48Yes, we have heard that PM Modi has given a statement

04:51That he will help Thailand

04:53Right now, there is no need to take help

04:57Right now, there are some workers who build houses

05:01Some of them are Burmese, some are Burmese

05:03Some of them are facing problems

05:05Some of them have already started working

05:09Pushkarji, take care of yourself

05:11Thank you very much for talking to us

05:13You are safe, people around you should stay safe

05:15Also joining me is a businessman

05:17Indian origin businessman in Bangkok

05:19Sunil Kothari is joining me

05:21Mr. Kothari, how are you?

05:23Did you also feel this earthquake?

05:25Jai Shri Ram, I am absolutely fine

05:27Jai Shri Ram sir, tell me

05:29Where were you when you felt the earthquake?

05:32I live in a high-rise building, I was at home

05:35As soon as the earthquake hit, I immediately realized that it was an earthquake

05:39It lasted for a long time

05:43The whole building seemed to be shaking

05:47I could hear a lot of things falling

05:50It felt like a roof was falling

05:52Something was falling

05:54It was a very scary scene

05:56I can't describe it in words

05:58And this happened in a few seconds?

06:01Yes, this happened in a few seconds

06:03The earthquake hit very fast

06:06We all went to the pillar and stood up

06:09All the family members in the house

06:12I told them to go to the pillar

06:14The best safety will be there

06:16Which floor were you living on?

06:20My house is on the 8th floor

06:22I could feel it very clearly

06:27Things were falling

06:29The platforms were shaking very fast

06:32The drawers were opening and the things were falling

06:35It was a very scary scene

06:39We all came out of the building

06:42The government advisers came out of the building

06:45The waves that come after the earthquake are likely to come

06:51So far, there has been an inspection of many buildings

06:55If a building is badly damaged, people will not go there

07:01If the building is in good condition, people will be able to go to their homes

07:05I am also out of my building

07:08I came to the garden and I am sitting there

07:11I am out of my house after the earthquake

07:15Many people have come out of their homes

07:18You can say that in Bangkok

07:20Many people will be seen outside

07:23Many people are outside

07:25Some people are in the garden, some people have gone to their bungalows

07:28But people are still standing outside the buildings

07:31The way we are able to see some visuals

07:34Kothari ji, the buildings are falling, they have crashed

07:38Has there been damage to that extent around you or not?

07:42There was a swimming pool near our hotel

07:44The pool is broken

07:46When the water came out, it felt like the whole building was coming down

07:51The swimming pool was damaged, the water fell down

07:55And there are cracks in many buildings

07:58What message have you received from the authorities?

08:01I couldn't hear you, please repeat

08:03What message have you received from the authorities?

08:06The authorities are updating the situation

08:09The Thai government has managed the situation very well

08:13People are in full calm

08:16All of us have complete faith in the government of Thailand

08:21They are giving us all the necessary information

08:26I would like to thank the Thai government for this

08:31Kothari ji, the final question you started with

08:35Let's assume that Lord Ram saved you and your family

08:39Yes

08:42Please take care of yourself, Sunil Kothari, businessman

08:46Yes sir

08:47My best wishes to the people of Myanmar and Thailand

08:54Stay healthy and safe

08:57This is very sweet

08:59Everyone we have been speaking to, whether Indian origin

09:02Or a national from Bangkok

09:05Have also been speaking more about Myanmar

09:07Because remember that's been where the maximum extent is

09:11But there's been damage in Bangkok and parts of Thailand as well

09:14We are trying to get you as many voices of journalists, residents

09:17That's what the situation is

09:19Remember over the next few hours only we will be able to find out

09:22What was the level of the damage, the aftermath

09:25That's been reported

09:27That's Bangkok, only one of at least three to four nations

09:30That have felt over seven on the Richter scale as an earthquake

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