All buildings of Rajshahi city are vulnerable to earthquake since none of the buildings here has been made by following the earth-quake resistance rule. An earth quake measuring 7.0 magnitudes in Richter scale would destroy over 98 percent buildings of the city, informed officials of Fire Service and Civil Defence at Rajshahi.
To decrease the loss of lives and properties from the earth quake, Fire Service and Civil Defence, Rajshahi Division has decided to form a volunteer team at Rajshahi who will work to rescue the possible earth quake hit people.
Sheikh Mohammad Mijanur Rahman, Deputy Director of Fire Services and Civil Defence of Rajshahi Division said to the correspondent, it is quite impossible to rescue the victims after a massive earthquake by existing firefighting equipment and the man power. As a result, the department has decided to train 6,000 community volunteers under Rajshahi City Corporation. Under this arrangement, two hundred volunteers will be trained in each ward.
The department of Fire Services and Civil Defence officials will start volunteer selection soon and their training will also start soon. At first stage of the training, most vulnerable areas to earthquake under Rajshahi City Corporation will be identified. He also informed, there are 132 fire fighters under Rajshahi City Corporation area, Rajshahi University, Tanore, Godagari and Puthia fire stations.
He said, it is impossible to save or rescue all people at a time during any calamity or disaster. So, they have decided to set up the community based volunteer groups.
These groups will not only rescue the earthquake victims but also help the fire fighters in case of any large scale natural calamities. Sheikh Mohammad Mijanur Rahman further said, after the training, a volunteer list will be prepared. The fire service and civil defence will arrange routine meetings in every three months with the listed volunteers. The trainees will receive special dresses and tools from the department.
He further said, it is proved all over the world that it is possible to minimize the loss of lives and properties substantially through active participation of the volunteers. He opined, during an event of an earthquake in Rajshahi, the land might give away because of exploiting excessive underground water.
Apart from these, if any earthquake with a 7 magnitude in Richter scale occurred, almost all of the buildings, bridges and culverts of the city will be collapsed.
