Ground shakes in Kolkata as earthquake of magnitude 5.5 strikes Bangladesh

Strong tremors were felt across Kolkata and several districts of south Bengal on Friday afternoon after a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck neighbouring Bangladesh, according to the National Centre for Seismology. The tremor hit at 1:22 pm IST at a depth of 10 km, with its epicentre located at Nayabazar in Bangladesh, around 100 km from Kolkata. The US Geological Survey recorded the quake at magnitude 5.3 and confirmed the epicentre was close to the India-Bangladesh border near Taki in West Bengal.

The sudden shaking triggered panic in many parts of the city, prompting residents to rush out of homes and offices. Visuals from different neighbourhoods showed ceiling fans swaying violently and bottles rattling or falling from tables. In several buildings, occupants gathered in open spaces as a precaution, while some offices were briefly evacuated.

Residents described the tremors as among the strongest they had experienced. One city resident said the sofa and ceiling fan in their room began shaking, and a bottle placed on a table fell to the floor, forcing the family to run downstairs. Others recalled feeling their buildings sway for several seconds, calling it an unusually intense experience for Kolkata.

Khulna in southwestern Bangladesh, located relatively close to the border and the Sundarbans delta region, lies near the epicentral zone. Experts note that the proximity — roughly 100 to 150 km from Kolkata — and the region’s soft alluvial soil likely amplified the shaking across south Bengal. A magnitude 5.3–5.5 quake is classified as moderate and can cause noticeable tremors over a wide area.