A moderate earthquake measuring between 5.4 and 5.5 on the Richter scale struck parts of Bangladesh on Friday afternoon, with tremors strongly felt in Kolkata and nearby areas of West Bengal.
According to preliminary seismic reports, the quake occurred at around 1:22 pm IST at a shallow depth of nearly 10 kilometres. The epicentre was located in southwestern Bangladesh, close to the Khulna region, roughly 100 kilometres from Kolkata. Because of its shallow depth, the tremors were clearly felt across high-rise buildings and residential neighbourhoods in the city.
Residents reported furniture shaking, ceiling fans swaying and windows rattling for several seconds. Many people in offices, apartments and commercial establishments rushed out into open spaces as a precaution. Visuals shared online showed office-goers and residents gathering on streets shortly after the tremors.
Though the shaking caused brief panic, there were no immediate reports of casualties or structural damage in Kolkata or surrounding districts. Authorities said the situation was being monitored, and disaster management teams remained alert in case of aftershocks.
The tremor also disrupted normal activity briefly in parts of the city, with some educational institutions and workplaces pausing operations as occupants evacuated buildings. The shaking was more noticeable in taller structures, where several residents described the impact as “strong but short”.
Eastern India, including West Bengal, often feels tremors originating from neighbouring Bangladesh and other seismically active zones in the region. Friday’s quake once again highlighted the area’s vulnerability to moderate seismic activity.
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