A 5.5-magnitude earthquake struck near Narsingdi in Bangladesh at 10:08 a.m. IST, sending powerful tremors rippling across the border into eastern India. The epicentre, located approximately 50 kilometres northeast of Dhaka at a shallow depth of 10 kilometres, triggered widespread shaking in Kolkata and surrounding districts of West Bengal, as well as parts of Northeast India. According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at coordinates 23.77°N, 90.51°E, classifying it as a moderate-intensity event capable of causing noticeable vibrations over a broad area.
The tremors lasted between 10 and 30 seconds in most locations, with residents in Kolkata reporting a sudden, rolling sensation that caused household items to sway, windows to rattle, and even furnitures to shift in some locations. In high-rise buildings across the city, the shaking was particularly pronounced, leading to immediate evacuations. Preliminary data from the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) in India confirmed the event, noting its proximity to the Indo-Bangladesh border. No immediate reports of casualties or major structural damage have emerged from Bangladesh or India, though assessments are ongoing in the densely populated regions affected.
In West Bengal, the quake's impact extended beyond Kolkata to districts including Malda, Nadia, Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur, and Siliguri. Eyewitness accounts describe the ground undulating as if a heavy vehicle were passing nearby, escalating to a more violent jolt that prompted instinctive flight to open spaces. The Bangladesh Meteorological Department recorded the tremor at around 10:38 a.m. local time in Dhaka, aligning with reports from the USGS. This event follows a series of minor seismic activities in the region earlier this year, including a 4.3-magnitude quake in the Indian Ocean at 2:41 a.m. IST and separate tremors in Afghanistan and Pakistan before dawn.
Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), lit up with real-time accounts from those who felt the quake, blending fear, relief, and humor. One Kolkata resident, software engineer Ridam Hazra (@Algo_Ridam), posted at 10:43 a.m.: "Earthquake in Kolkata. Was noticeable for about 20-30 seconds." In Bangladesh, Khimeri (@ReiDragoness) described the intensity: "thats the first time i felt an earthquake of that severity in bd, like holy sh*t im still shaking," reflecting the personal toll with 144 engagements. Adding a cultural touch, Dipanjan (@Dip_967432) from Kolkata tweeted: "#Earthquake #Earthquake #Kolkata still going on ... Conch shells blowing... শাঁখ বাজছে শাঁখ বাজছে" evoking traditional Bengali rituals for protection.
