A significant earthquake rattled Kolkata and surrounding regions of West Bengal on Friday afternoon, sending tremors through residential buildings, offices, and neighbourhoods across the city. The quake struck at 1:22 pm IST, briefly bringing daily life to a standstill as residents rushed out of buildings and took to social media to share their experiences.
The US Geological Survey (USGS) confirmed the earthquake registered a magnitude of 5.3, with its epicenter located approximately 26 km southeast of Taki in West Bengal, at coordinates 22.451°N and 89.139°E. The tremor originated at a shallow depth of just 9.8 km — a factor that seismologists note can significantly amplify the intensity of shaking felt at the surface, even for moderate-magnitude quakes.
The shallow focal depth helps explain why residents across a wide area — from central Kolkata to neighbouring districts — reported feeling the tremors so strongly.
Social media platforms, particularly X (formerly Twitter), were flooded with accounts from rattled residents within minutes of the quake. "Felt the tremors of an earthquake for the first time in my life," wrote one user, capturing the unease felt by many in a city that does not experience strong seismic activity on a regular basis. Another described "terrible waves felt at Kolkata," suggesting the rolling, wave-like motion typical of tremors emanating from shallow sources.
Reports also poured in from surrounding districts, though details from those areas remain limited at this stage. The widespread geographic spread of the reports points to the quake's considerable reach across the Bengal delta region.
As of the time of writing, authorities have not confirmed any casualties or structural damage. Emergency services and local administration are assessing the situation, and official updates are awaited. Given Kolkata's dense urban population and the age of much of its built infrastructure, authorities will be closely monitoring reports from across the city.
The Bengal region sits in a seismically active zone. The Indian subcontinent's ongoing tectonic collision with the Eurasian plate generates significant stress across northeastern India and Bangladesh, making the region susceptible to periodic seismic activity. A shallow, sub-6.0 magnitude quake of this nature, while alarming to those who felt it, does not typically cause widespread structural damage — though older or poorly constructed buildings can be vulnerable.
Residents are advised to stay calm, avoid damaged structures if any are identified, and follow official guidance from local disaster management authorities.
This is a developing story. Further updates will be added as more information becomes available.
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