An earthquake struck Kolkata on Friday afternoon (February 27), with people rushing out of their homes and offices in a panic as the earth shook. In the Parnasree area of Behala, a report shared by Times Now shows a newly-constructed road in Manna Para with cracks just after the earthquake. The epicentre of the earthquake was in neighbouring Bangladesh, which shook parts of West Bengal.
According to locals, the earthquake caused the road surface to crack, with concerns about the quality of the road, which was recently constructed. Visuals shared by Times Now from the area show people gathered outside, looking at the cracks that appeared on a large part of the road.
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There were no reported injuries, although some said that more severe damage could have been caused by stronger earthquakes.
Earthquake registered 5.5 on the Richter scale
The National Centre for Seismology (NCS) has confirmed that the earthquake registered 5.5 on the Richter scale. The earthquake occurred at a depth of 10 km and at 1.22 pm IST, with its epicenter in Bangladesh at 22.57N and 89.11E.
People were seen anxiously huddled right outside their office complexes after the felt tremors. Visuals of the same surfaced on social media.
"I was watching TV when the tremor happened, and the entire room started jolting badly," said Riya, a resident of South Kolkata, recalling the sudden shock that left her startled as the tremors rippled through the area.
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"We were sitting in the Jadavpur University departmental library when the earthquake hit. It felt like a serious threat to life, considering I was experiencing such an earthquake for the first time," said Fazle Wakil, a research scholar at Jadavpur University.
What do experts say?
While the jolts lasted only a short while, experts caution that the risk does not end once tremors stop. Aftershocks may follow hours, days or even weeks later and can weaken already damaged structures. Residents are advised to remain alert and avoid entering buildings that show visible cracks or structural damage.
Safety officials recommend avoiding the use of open flames inside buildings immediately after an earthquake, as gas pipelines may have been affected. Lighters, matches, or electrical sparks could trigger fires if leaks are present. Those living near coastal areas should also stay away from beaches, as seismic activity can occasionally lead to sudden flooding or tsunami-like conditions.
