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