Kolkata and several adjoining districts experienced two successive earthquake tremors on Friday afternoon. The shocks triggered anxiety across residential and commercial zones.
Citizens rushed out of homes and office buildings in alarm.
The tremors struck at approximately 1:22 PM. Vibrations rippled across the metropolis and neighbouring districts.
Multiple high-rise structures swayed for several seconds. Occupants evacuated the premises as a precaution.
Authorities, however, confirmed that the epicentre lay in Khulna, Bangladesh. The quake registered a magnitude of 5.5 on the Richter scale.
Residents reported visible movement in ageing buildings. Some old houses appeared to tilt slightly.
Despite widespread concern, officials reported no major catastrophe at the time of filing. Emergency teams did not confirm any large-scale structural collapse or casualties.
The tremors primarily affected districts across South Bengal in addition to Kolkata.
The districts that recorded a stronger impact included South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore and West Midnapore.
Citizens across these regions stepped outdoors in apprehension.
Earlier, on February 3 at 9:05 PM, another significant tremor shook large parts of Kolkata. Residents immediately assembled in open spaces.
Initial assessments suggested Myanmar as the origin of that seismic disturbance.
In November last year, Kolkata and extensive areas of South Bengal experienced another earthquake.
That tremor originated near Narsingdi in Bangladesh. Seismologists recorded its depth at 10 kilometres. It measured 5.7 on the Richter scale.
Observers note that the latest tremors felt more sustained. Many residents uploaded footage on social media platforms, documenting swaying fixtures and unsettled interiors.
The state administration has not yet issued a comprehensive impact statement.
However, a source within the state Secretariat, Nabanna, confirmed that officials are contacting district headquarters to gather situational updates.
The administration has, however, appealed for restraint. Authorities have urged citizens to avoid panic and rely on verified information channels as monitoring continues.
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