A strong earthquake measuring 5.4 magnitude struck Kolkata on Friday afternoon, shaking buildings and triggering panic across the West Bengal capital.
The tremor hit at around 1:22 pm, with the epicentre reported in Bangladesh.
Residents across several neighbourhoods felt ceiling fans sway, furniture tremble, and windows rattle. People rushed out of homes, offices, and multi‑storey buildings, gathering in open spaces for safety. Social media quickly filled with accounts of the quake, as many described the sudden shaking inside their houses.
Authorities confirmed that no casualties or property damage have been reported so far. The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) recorded the quake at a depth of 10 km, while the US Geological Survey (USGS) initially registered a magnitude of 5.3. The USGS also reported the epicentre as 26 km southeast of Taki in West Bengal.
This marks the second earthquake in Kolkata this month. On February 3, a mild tremor originating in Myanmar jolted the city and surrounding areas. Friday’s quake, however, was stronger and widely felt across West Bengal and neighbouring Bangladesh.
A resident, Swagata, described the moment of panic: “We were sitting on our sofa when we suddenly felt the tremors. We rushed out of our house. The sofa and fan were shaking, and a bottle fell down. All of us rushed downstairs.”
Officials continue to monitor the situation, urging residents to remain cautious. The earthquake in Kolkata highlighted the region’s vulnerability to seismic activity and the importance of preparedness.
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