Tremors Shake Kolkata as 5.7-Magnitude Quake Hits Bangladesh; Six Dead in Dhaka
Eastern India felt strong ground movement Friday morning after a shallow earthquake struck near Dhaka, prompting building evacuations across Kolkata and nearby districts. A 5.7-magnitude...
Eastern India felt strong ground movement Friday morning after a shallow earthquake struck near Dhaka, prompting building evacuations across Kolkata and nearby districts.
A 5.7-magnitude earthquake centred in Bangladesh sent tremors across Kolkata and several parts of eastern India on Friday morning, triggering precautionary evacuations but causing no major damage within India, according to early assessments.
The National Center for Seismology (NCS) reported that the quake struck at 10:08 am IST, with its epicentre located 10 kilometres east-southeast of Dhaka. Because the earthquake was relatively shallow, shaking was felt across a wide area.
Casualties Reported in Bangladesh
Local broadcaster DBC Television said at least six people were killed in Dhaka, including three who died when the roof and a boundary wall collapsed, and three pedestrians struck by falling railings. Emergency crews in the Bangladeshi capital are continuing rescue and damage-assessment operations as aftershocks remain possible.
Kolkata Feels the Shaking
In Kolkata, residents reported mild but noticeable movement. Many described swaying ceiling fans, rattling windows and vibrating wall fixtures. Several office buildings in areas such as the Salt Lake IT hub temporarily evacuated employees as a safety measure.
Social media quickly filled with videos showing people stepping outside homes and workplaces during the shaking. While authorities noted that no structural damage had been reported in West Bengal, they urged residents to remain alert and avoid using elevators until safety checks were complete.
Tremors were also felt in Dakshin Dinajpur, Uttar Dinajpur, Cooch Behar, and neighbouring northeastern states including Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram.
No Casualties in India
As of Friday afternoon, officials confirmed there were no injuries or fatalities in India related to the earthquake. Disaster-response teams and local administrations remain on standby.
Separate Quake Hits Pakistan
The NCS also confirmed a 3.9-magnitude earthquake in Pakistan late Thursday. The shallow depth — just 10 kilometres — increases the likelihood of aftershocks and intensifies ground shaking near the surface.
Shallow quakes typically pose greater risks because seismic waves travel shorter distances before reaching the ground, often resulting in stronger shaking and potentially greater structural damage.
A Region Prone to Seismic Activity
South Asia remains one of the world's most earthquake-active regions. Afghanistan, Pakistan, northern India and Bangladesh lie along the collision zone where the Indian and Eurasian tectonic plates meet — the same geological forces responsible for the Himalayas’ rise. This convergence regularly produces moderate to strong earthquakes, often felt across national borders.
Seismologists warn that as urban density grows in major cities like Dhaka, Karachi and Delhi, the need for earthquake-resilient infrastructure is becoming increasingly urgent.