Life came to a halt in Kolkata and across several parts of West Bengal earlier today as residents were shaken by strong earthquake tremors. The quake, which struck around 10:08 am IST, caused widespread panic, sending people running out of buildings and onto the streets.
Official data from the German Research Center for Geosciences (GFZ) and the United States Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed that the seismic activity was a Magnitude 5.7 earthquake centered in neighboring Bangladesh.
Details of the Quake
While initial reports were awaiting confirmation on intensity, authorities have since confirmed key details of the incident:
- Magnitude: $5.7$ on the Richter Scale
- Epicentre: Narsingdi, Bangladesh (about 50 km from Dhaka)
- Depth: Shallow, at approximately $10$ km
The shallow depth of the quake contributed to the strength of the tremors felt across the border in West Bengal.
Panic and Public Reaction
The shaking, described by some residents as lasting for an unusually long “over 30 seconds,” caused furniture and hanging lights to sway visibly. Though the tremors were strong, especially in high-rise buildings, preliminary reports from the West Bengal Disaster Management Department and city authorities indicate no immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage in Kolkata or the surrounding districts.
Social media was instantly flooded with reports from startled residents:
- “Small quake but big panic,” wrote Supratim Maitra on X, describing the alarm across neighborhoods.
- Another user, Vinay Kumar Dokania, noted: “That #earthquake lasted over 30 seconds and was very powerful.”
Apart from Kolkata, tremors were reported in districts including Malda, Nadia, Cooch Behar, and parts of South Bengal. Authorities have urged residents to remain cautious but confirmed there is no immediate cause for concern regarding structural integrity.