Kolkata, Feb 27: Kolkata and its neighboring regions were jolted by a 5.5 magnitude earthquake on Friday, causing residents to flee into the streets as buildings swayed. The tremor, which originated in Bangladesh at a depth of 10 km, was felt across the state of West Bengal shortly after 1:50 pm.
The seismic event resulted in visible swaying of overhead fixtures and the rattling of windows in residential and commercial hubs. In many parts of the city, the sudden movement led to a collective rush toward open spaces. Data from the National Centre for Seismology confirmed the intensity, while the USGS maintained that the epicenter was situated near the border town of Taki.
Individuals experiencing the quake for the first time declared the sensations to be unsettling and intense. One resident asserted that the waves felt “terrible” as they moved through high-rise structures. Another witness noted that the tremors were strong enough to cause a bottle to fall from a table, adding that the entire household sought safety outdoors until the vibrations subsided.
The impact of the earthquake extended beyond the city limits, with reports of tremors arriving from various border districts. Preliminary reports suggest that while the panic was widespread, the primary effect in Kolkata was limited to the swaying of furniture and fixtures. Government agencies continue to monitor the situation for any aftershocks, though the initial threat appeared to pass without reports of severe injury.
