Strong tremors were felt across Kolkata, several districts of West Bengal, and parts of Northeast India on Friday morning after a 5.5 magnitude earthquake struck near Dhaka in Bangladesh. According to the US Geological Survey (USGS), the quake occurred at 10:08 am, with its epicentre located 13 km south-southwest of Narsingdi, around 50 km from Dhaka. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) reported the quake originated at a shallow depth of 10 km.
No casualties, injuries or structural damage have been reported so far from either India or Bangladesh.
Kolkata residents rush outdoors in panic
In Kolkata, people across several neighbourhoods reported feeling noticeable tremors at around 10:10 am. The shaking lasted only a few seconds but was strong enough to send residents rushing out of homes, offices and apartment buildings.
Videos shared widely on social media captured ceiling fans swaying, furniture vibrating, and people quickly evacuating buildings. Several office workers in central Kolkata said they felt their chairs move and immediately stepped outside as precaution.
Tremors felt across West Bengal and Northeast
Besides Kolkata, tremors were recorded in districts including Cooch Behar, Dakshin Dinajpur and Uttar Dinajpur. Residents in North Bengal described the shaking as brief but “strong enough to alarm”.
Cities in the Northeast — including Guwahati, Agartala, and Shillong — also experienced mild to moderate tremors. Local authorities have stated that there are no reports of damage in these regions either.
Dhaka Test match briefly disrupted
The earthquake also momentarily disrupted the ongoing Bangladesh vs Ireland Test match in Dhaka. Players paused play and waited as the tremors passed. The match resumed safely after a short interval, and officials confirmed that no structural damage occurred at the venue.
Monitoring continues as no major impact reported
Seismologists noted that shallow earthquakes like this tend to be more widely felt across neighbouring regions, which explains the strong shaking reported in eastern and northeastern India. Authorities in West Bengal and Assam are continuing to monitor the situation, though no aftershocks or disturbances have been recorded so far.
Further updates from IMD and disaster management teams are awaited.
Conclusion
The 5.5 magnitude quake near Dhaka triggered widespread tremors across eastern India but caused no major damage. While residents were momentarily shaken, normalcy returned quickly as authorities confirmed there was no significant impact. Experts advise citizens to stay informed and follow basic earthquake safety protocols during such events.