Several regions across eastern and northeastern India experienced unexpected shaking on Friday morning after a moderate earthquake in Bangladesh sent vibrations across state borders. Although the epicentre lay near Dhaka, the impact was widely felt in Kolkata, where startled residents hurried outdoors as buildings swayed briefly.

The National Center for Seismology confirmed that the event registered 5.7 in magnitude, occurring at 10:08 a.m. (IST), roughly 10 km east-southeast of Dhaka at a shallow depth of 10 km. Earlier assessments from the US Geological Survey estimated the shock at 5.5 magnitude, placing it about 13 km south-southwest of Narsingdi, near the Bangladeshi capital. The shallow depth contributed to the tremors being felt over a large area.

In many parts of Kolkata from office districts to residential pockets people reported sudden shaking that lasted only a few seconds but was strong enough to trigger panic. Social media quickly filled with video clips showing household items moving and office workers gathering outside. One office-goer described the moment vividly, saying, “I jolted out of my chair inside the office when it started shaking. I felt like I am dizzy, but later realised the fans and water bottles are all shaking.”

Witnesses Report Panic as Tremors Vary in Intensity

Eyewitness accounts varied in intensity, with some describing the jolt as mild and others as unnervingly long. On X, a user noted, “Small quake but big panic,” while Vinay Kumar Dokania posted, “That #earthquake lasted over 30 seconds and was very powerful.”

Beyond Kolkata, residents in Cooch Behar, the Dinajpur districts, and several northeastern cities including Agartala, Guwahati, Shillong, and other parts of Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram also felt the tremors. Emergency services reported no injuries, casualties, or structural damage across the affected regions. According to the IMD, the tremors in West Bengal were recorded at around 10:10 am.

The quake even momentarily interrupted the Bangladesh vs. Ireland Test match in Dhaka, though play resumed shortly afterward without incident.

As the situation remained stable, political parties in West Bengal took to social media to trade sharp jabs. The BJP posted, “West Bengal just felt earthquake tremors. @MamataOfficial, was it because of SIR?” The Trinamool Congress fired back with, “It’s actually the ground shaking beneath the feet of @BJP4Bengal as they stare at an imminent defeat in the 2026 Assembly elections. And don’t worry, the Delhi Zamindars won’t miss it either; the shockwaves will reach them too.”

In a separate development, the NCS reported a 3.9-magnitude earthquake in Pakistan on Thursday, also at a shallow 10 km depth, making aftershocks more likely. Seismologists note that this region spanning Afghanistan, Pakistan, and northern India lies along active tectonic boundaries where the Indian plate presses against the Eurasian plate, leading to frequent seismic activity.

Authorities are continuing to observe the situation, though no further disturbances have been reported yet.