Kolkata shaken! 5.3 magnitude quake sparks panic, people flee buildings
An earthquake measuring 5.3 on the Richter Scale struck Kolkata at around 1:22 pm on Friday, sparking panic across the city as residents and office-goers rushed out of buildings in fear.
Tremors lasting several seconds were felt in multiple parts of the metropolis, prompting people to rush out of offices, shops and residential buildings and gather in open spaces.
According to the United States Geological Survey (USGS), the epicentre was located about 26 km southeast of Taki, a town near the India–Bangladesh border in West Bengal. The quake struck at a shallow depth of 9.8 kilometres.
There were no immediate reports of casualties or major damage, and authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation.
“I was working at a store when I felt the tremors for a few seconds. We immediately rushed out,” an employee at a café in Salt Lake told IBNS.
Employees across various sectors evacuated their offices as a precautionary measure, while several residents described the tremors as among the strongest felt in recent times.
In a related development, a house on Ganesh Chandra Avenue reportedly tilted following the quake, prompting officials of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) to inspect the structure.
Social media platforms were flooded with posts and images from residents sharing their experiences.
The tremors were also felt in neighbouring Bangladesh.
Assistant Meteorologist Farzana Sultana of the Bangladesh Meteorological Department told The Daily Star that a moderate earthquake of magnitude 5.4 struck parts of Bangladesh. She said the epicentre was in Satkhira, about 188 km southwest of Dhaka.
Residents in Khulna, Jhenaidah, Jashore, Chattogram, Shariatpur and Gazipur also reported feeling the tremors.
IBNS
Senior Staff Reporter at Northeast Herald, covering news from Tripura and Northeast India.
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