Kolkata Shaken: 5.5 Magnitude Earthquake Hits Bangladesh Border

New Delhi, February 27, 2026: On Friday afternoon, February 27, 2026, a strong earthquake jolted Kolkata and several parts of South Bengal, triggering widespread panic and leading to the evacuation of high-rise buildings and offices.

The tremor, which occurred at approximately 1:22 PM IST, lasted for several seconds and was felt distinctly across the metropolitan area, including Dalhousie, Salt Lake, and New Town.

Earthquake Details: Magnitude and Epicentre

According to the National Centre for Seismology (NCS) and the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), the seismic event originated across the border in neighboring Bangladesh.

• Magnitude: Preliminary reports varied slightly between agencies, with the NCS recording it at 5.5 on the Richter Scale, while the USGS estimated the magnitude at 5.3.
• Epicentre: The epicentre was located in southwestern Bangladesh, specifically near the town of Satkhira in the Khulna Division. The USGS pinpointed the location approximately 26 km southeast of Taki, a town in West Bengal on the India-Bangladesh border.
• Depth: The quake struck at a relatively shallow depth of approximately 10 km, which contributed to the intensity of the tremors felt on the surface.

Impact on Kolkata and West Bengal

As the waves reached the Gangetic delta, the soft alluvial soil of the region amplified the shaking. Residents in high-rise apartments reported swaying ceiling fans, rattling windows, and furniture moving on its own.

Immediate Reactions

• Mass Evacuations: Thousands of office workers and residents rushed out of buildings into open spaces. In the city’s central business district, crowds gathered on the streets as automatic earthquake alerts flashed on mobile phones.
• Panic in Congregations: Union Minister of State Sukanta Majumdar was addressing a public gathering when the tremors struck. Footage from the event showed cameras and the stage shaking, forcing a brief pause in the proceedings.
• No Immediate Casualties: While the jolts were powerful enough to cause significant alarm—especially in North Kolkata’s older, congested neighborhoods—there have been no immediate reports of major structural damage or casualties within West Bengal.

Regional Context

This is the second time in a month that Kolkata has felt seismic activity. On February 3, 2026, the city experienced milder tremors from a 6.1 magnitude earthquake centered in Myanmar. Seismologists note that while Kolkata is not on a major fault line itself, its proximity to the active Himalayan and Indo-Burman plate boundaries makes it susceptible to tremors from neighboring regions.

Local authorities remain on high alert, and disaster management teams are monitoring the situation for any aftershocks.