Strong Earthquake Tremors Rattle Kolkata and South Bengal

Kolkata | February 27, 2026:  Residents of Kolkata and several districts in south Bengal were left panicked on Friday afternoon as strong tremors shook the region following a 5.5-magnitude earthquake in neighboring Bangladesh, the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) reported. The tremors struck at 1:22 pm IST at a depth of 10 km, with the epicentre located near Nayabazar, Bangladesh, roughly 100 km from Kolkata.

Visuals from across the city showed ceiling fans swaying violently, bottles rattling and falling from tables, and buildings visibly shaking. Many residents rushed to open spaces, leaving their homes and offices in a state of alarm. One resident, Swagata, described the experience: “We were sitting on our sofa when we suddenly felt the tremors. The sofa and fan were shaking, and a bottle fell. All of us rushed downstairs immediately.”

The US Geological Survey (USGS) measured the earthquake at a magnitude of 5.3, with the epicentre about 26 km southeast of Taki in West Bengal, close to the India-Bangladesh border. The quake’s proximity to Khulna and the Sundarbans delta contributed to its widespread impact across south Bengal. Experts noted that regions with soft alluvial soil, such as the Gangetic delta, tend to experience more noticeable shaking even during moderate earthquakes.

The tremors caused widespread panic, with people seen gathering on streets, checking on family members, and leaving buildings for safety. Many residents reported it was the strongest tremor they had ever felt in Kolkata, with buildings swaying for several long seconds.

No immediate reports of casualties or major damage have been confirmed, but authorities and disaster management teams remain on alert in the affected areas.