NEW DELHI, Feb 27: Kolkata and several other parts of West Bengal was shaken by a massive earthquake on Friday afternoon, with residents, reporting tremors across the city around 1:22 pm, running out of homes, offices and schools. Many ran out of apartment complexes and gathered in open areas.
According to the National Center for Seismology (NCS), the quake registered a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale. The tremor, which struck at a depth of 10 km, had its epicenter in south-western Bangladesh and occurred at 1:52 pm local time.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) had registered a magnitude of 5.3. The USGS confirmed that the epicentre was 26 km southeast of Taki, West Bengal. Variations in preliminary magnitude estimates are common as agencies refine seismic data.
Residents shared their experiences on X, with one user saying, “Felt the tremors of an earthquake for the first time in my life.” Another said, “Terrible waves felt at Kolkata.” Several reports also came from neighboring districts. Social media also saw visuals from across the city showing people rushing out of their residences in panic. The tremor was felt in surrounding districts near the India-Bangladesh border.
Residents across several neighborhoods reported that ceiling fans swayed, furniture trembled, and windows rattled during the quake, with the effects felt more strongly in multi-storey buildings.
People also shared screenshots on social media of an earthquake alert received on their mobile phones. Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar, who was addressing a gathering, was seen taking a pause as tremors were felt at the venue. A 63-year-old woman, who was seated on a rocking chair, reported seeing the chair sway on its own.
According to NCS, earthquake of 5.5 magnitude struck parts of Bangladesh, about 191 kilometers south west of capital Dhaka. It was felt at around 1.22 pm and was recorded at a depth of 10 km below Earth’s surface. The epicentre of the earthquake was reportedly Nayabazar in Bangladesh, some 100 kilometers from Kolkata. There was no immediate report of any loss of life or damage to property.
(Rohit Kumar)
Comments are closed.