5.5-Magnitude Quake in Bangladesh Felt in Kolkata

Kolkata, February 27, 2026—Residents of Kolkata and surrounding districts in West Bengal experienced tremors from a 5.5-magnitude earthquake centered in southwestern Bangladesh on Friday afternoon, prompting widespread panic as people evacuated buildings and gathered in open areas.

The quake struck at approximately 1:22 p.m. local time, with its epicenter near Nayabazar in the Khulna-Jessore region, about 100 kilometers east-northeast of Kolkata, according to officials from the India Meteorological Department. Recorded at a depth of 10 kilometers, the tremors lasted several seconds and were felt across much of the city and adjacent areas, including South 24 Parganas, North 24 Parganas, Howrah, Hooghly, East Midnapore, and West Midnapore. In high-rise buildings, busy markets, and residential complexes, ceiling fans swayed, furniture shifted, and windows rattled, intensifying the sense of alarm among occupants.

No casualties or significant property damage were reported in the immediate aftermath, officials from the West Bengal Disaster Management Department confirmed. State authorities issued an appeal for calm, with a source from the state secretariat in Nabanna stating that...