A multi-storey building on Ganesh Chandra Avenue in Bow Bazaar shook violently and reportedly tilted to the left during strong earthquake tremors that hit Kolkata on Friday afternoon, triggering panic among residents. Locals said the entire structure swayed for several seconds, prompting occupants to rush out of the premises in fear. No immediate reports of injuries were received, but the incident caused alarm in the densely populated commercial and residential area.
The tremors were felt across Kolkata and several districts of south Bengal after a 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck Nayabazar in neighbouring Bangladesh at 1:22 pm IST at a depth of 10 km. The epicentre was located around 100 km from Kolkata, near the India-Bangladesh border close to Taki in West Bengal. Residents across the city reported ceiling fans swaying and furniture shaking, describing the quake as unusually intense. Experts attribute the strong impact to the proximity of the epicentre and the region’s soft alluvial soil, which can amplify seismic waves.